Telehealth for Opioid Use Disorder Retention as a Function of Demographics and Rurality

The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Telehealth for Opioid Use Disorder Retention as a Function of Demographics and Rurality

A study published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse found that patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) are significantly more likely to stick with their treatment plan when offered buprenorphine via telemedicine. Patients in the study received buprenorphine via telemedicine, and their 180-day treatment retention rate was 56.4 percent. The researchers also studied a subset of these patients for 365 days, and found that their treatment retention rate was 48.3 percent. These rates are higher than retention rates for OUD patients receiving buprenorphine in-person.