Effects of the Communities That HEAL intervention on initiation, retention, and linkage to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD): A cluster randomized wait-list controlled trial.
Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) can reduce opioid use and overdose deaths. This study examined whether the Communities That HEAL (CTH) intervention increased MOUD initiation, retention, and linkage. The HEALing Communities Study was a multi-site, 2-arm, parallel, community-level, cluster-randomized, unblinded, wait-list controlled trial conducted in 67 communities (n = 34 intervention, n = 33 control). Using Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and Medicaid claims data, we compared mean community-level rates of MOUD outcomes during the 1-year comparison period (July 2021-June 2022) for: (a) MOUD receipt at least once; (b) continuous MOUD receipt for 180 days; and (c) MOUD linkage within 31 days following an opioid-related emergency department or hospital encounter. For intervention and control communities, adjusted rates of receiving MOUD at least once were 578 (95 % CI: 562, 594) and 596 (95 % CI: 572, 621) per 1000 Medicaid enrollees, respectively [adjusted Relative Rate (aRR)= 0.97 (95 % CI: 0.93, 1.01)]. Adjusted rates of receiving MOUD for 180 consecutive days (retention) were 614 (95 % CI: 595, 634) and 620 (95 % CI: 603, 638) per 1000 Medicaid enrollees receiving MOUD at least once for intervention and control communities, respectively [aRR= 0.99 (95 % CI: 0.95, 1.04)]. The adjusted rate of linkage was 280 (95 % CI: 254, 310) and 252 (95 % CI: 226, 281) per 1000 encounters for intervention and control communities, respectively [aRR= 1.11 (95 % CI: 0.96, 1.28). Compared to control communities, communities that received the CTH intervention did not demonstrate higher rates of MOUD use, retention, or linkage. Additional efforts are needed to improve uptake and sustained use of MOUD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04111939.
Authors
Brown Brown, Larochelle Larochelle, Fanucchi Fanucchi, Calvert Calvert, Campbell Campbell, Chandler Chandler, Feaster Feaster, Glasgow Glasgow, Gibson Gibson, Holloway Holloway, Lofwall Lofwall, Mack Mack, Mack Mack, Nunes Nunes, Talbert Talbert, Tan Tan, Vandergrift Vandergrift, Villani Villani, Asman Asman, Babakhanlou-Chase Babakhanlou-Chase, Bagley Bagley, Battaglia Battaglia, Blevins Blevins, Bridden Bridden, Cheng Cheng, Christopher Christopher, Cogan Cogan, Cunningham Cunningham, Eggleston Eggleston, Fareed Fareed, Fernandez Fernandez, Freedman Freedman, Freiermuth Freiermuth, Freisthler Freisthler, Gilbert Gilbert, Hammerslag Hammerslag, Harris Harris, Hunt Hunt, Hussain Hussain, Huynh Huynh, Jackson Jackson, Kauffman Kauffman, Knott Knott, Knudsen Knudsen, Lefebvre Lefebvre, Levin Levin, Massatti Massatti, McAlearney McAlearney, Morgan Morgan, Lopez Lopez, Lounsbury Lounsbury, Newman Newman, Nickels Nickels, Oga Oga, Oller Oller, Parran Parran, Quinn Quinn, Ramsey Ramsey, Rapkin Rapkin, Salsberry Salsberry, Stein Stein, Taylor Taylor, Teater Teater, Walters Walters, Zarkin Zarkin, El-Bassel El-Bassel, Winhusen Winhusen, Samet Samet, Walsh Walsh
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