Buprenorphine/naloxone induction in a Canadian emergency department with rapid access to community-based addictions providers.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Opioid-related emergency department (ED) visits have increased significantly in recent years. Our objective was to evaluate an ED-initiated buprenorphine/naloxone program, which provided rapid access to an outpatient community-based addictions clinic, for patients in opioid withdrawal.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review was completed within a health system encompassing four community EDs in Ontario, Canada. Patients were screened for opioid withdrawal between April 2017-December 2017 and offered buprenorphine/naloxone treatment and referral to outpatient addictions follow-up. The main outcome measure was treatment retention in the six-month period after the index visit.

RESULTS:

The overall sample (N = 49) showed high healthcare utilization in the year prior to the index ED visit. 88% of patients (n = 43) consented to ED-initiated buprenorphine/naloxone and were referred to outpatient addictions follow-up, with 54% attending the initial follow-up visit. In the 6-month follow-up period from the index ED visit, 35% of patients were receiving ongoing buprenorphine/naloxone treatment and 2.3% were weaned off opioids. Patients with ongoing treatment had significantly lower number of ED visits at 3 and 6 months (3 and 10, respectively) compared to patients who did not show up for outpatient follow-up (28, 40) or started/stopped treatment (23, 41).

CONCLUSIONS:

Screening for opioid use disorder in the ED and initiating buprenorphine/naloxone treatment with rapid referral to an outpatient community-based addictions clinic led to a 6-month treatment retention rate of 37% and a significant reduction in ED visits at 3 and 6 months. Buprenorphine/naloxone initiation in the ED appears to be an effective intervention, but further research is needed.

• Authors: Tina Hu, Melissa Snider-Adler, Larry Nijmeh, Adam Pyle
• Journal: CJEM (CJEM) Vol. 21 Issue 4 Pg. 492-498 (07 2019) ISSN: 1481-8043 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 31006398 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination
• Narcotic Antagonists

Topics

• Adult
• Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination (therapeutic use)
• Canada (epidemiology)
• Emergency Service, Hospital (statistics & numerical data)
• Female
• Hospitalization (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Male
• Narcotic Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Opioid-Related Disorders (epidemiology, therapy)
• Referral and Consultation (statistics & numerical data)
• Retrospective Studies
• Substance Abuse Treatment Centers