Publications by authors named "Kevin T Schnepel"
Article Synopsis
- Previous studies showed limited evidence on how buprenorphine versus methadone affects different groups of people using opioids, particularly with the rise of fentanyl use.
- The study aimed to compare the risks of treatment discontinuation and mortality between individuals using buprenorphine/naloxone versus those using methadone for opioid use disorder in British Columbia from 2010 to 2020.
- Findings revealed that users of buprenorphine/naloxone had a significantly higher likelihood of discontinuing treatment after 24 months compared to those on methadone, with 88.8% versus 81.5% discontinuing, indicating that methadone may be more effective in retaining users.
Introduction: The province of British Columbia, Canada, changed the existing oral anhydrous methadone solution to a 10-times more concentrated pre-mixed solution, Methadose®, on February 1, 2014. We aimed to assess the immediate effects of the methadone reformulation on missed doses, days off methadone, changes in medication dosing and dispensations of opioids for pain, and hospitalizations and mortality among all people receiving treatment at or near the time of the change.
Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study including all individuals receiving at least one methadone dispensation in the 12 months prior to the study period.