The Role of Patient Payment Method in Premature Discharge from Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

Background: Premature discharge is a pervasive problem in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), and is associated with numerous adverse outcomes. Although a number of demographic variables have consistently been found to impact MMT retention, method of payment has received considerably less attention. A notable limitation of prior work is that most studies classify all patients who leave treatment early, irrespective of reason, as treatment dropouts and fail to account for specific reasons.

Medication Treatment With Methadone or Buprenorphine: Differential Reasons for Premature Discharge.

Objectives: Medication treatment with methadone or buprenorphine has shown demonstrated effectiveness for opioid dependence; while premature discharge is associated with adverse outcomes. Specific reasons for premature discharge generally fall into 2 broad categories (ie, patient- and program-initiated). Previous studies have typically failed to distinguish between different types of discharge reasons among patients who leave treatment early.

Patient adherence to multi-component continuing care discharge plans.

Intuitively, it is assumed that greater patient adherence to treatment recommendations in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment is associated with favorable outcomes, but surprisingly, there is limited research systematically examining the adherence-outcome relationship in the context of the continuing care phase post-discharge from residential treatment. This study sought to determine the effect of adherence to multi-component continuing care plans on long-term outcomes among patients following the primary treatment episode. Data were abstracted from electronic medical records for 271 patients (59.

Importance of short-term continuing care plan adherence on long-term outcomes among patients discharged from residential substance use treatment.

Background: Patients adherent to their recommended treatment regimen demonstrate favorable outcomes. However, it is unclear whether there are specific short-term continuing care performance variables indicative of better long-term prognosis.

Objective: This study determined the impact of attendance at an outpatient appointment within 7 days post-discharge from residential treatment on 12-month outcomes.

AiRCare: A naturalistic evaluation of the effectiveness of a protracted telephone-based recovery assistance program on continuing care outcomes.

Background & Objective: Substance use disorder treatments are increasingly being contextualized within a disease management framework. Within this context, there is an identified need to maintain patients in treatment for longer periods of time in order to help them learn how to manage their disease. One way to meet this need is through telephone-based interventions that engage patients, and include more active outreach attempts and involvement of the patient's family.

Predictors of patient retention in methadone maintenance treatment.

This study sought to determine whether select pretreatment demographic and in-treatment clinical variables predict premature treatment discharge at 6 and 12 months among patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Data were abstracted from electronic medical records for 1,644 patients with an average age of 34.7 years (SD = 11.

Effects of injectable extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) for opioid dependence on residential rehabilitation outcomes and early follow-up.

Background And Objectives: Little is known about the use of extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) during residential rehabilitation, and its effects on early outcomes and rates of follow-up treatment. This study examined patient characteristics and rates of treatment completion and engagement in post-residential care of opioid dependent patients who received XR-NTX during residential rehabilitation, compared with patients who did not receive this medication.

Methods: Electronic records for opioid dependent patients from three Pennsylvania residential detoxification and treatment facilities (N = 7,687) were retrospectively analyzed.

A naturalistic comparison of the effectiveness of methadone and two sublingual formulations of buprenorphine on maintenance treatment outcomes: findings from a retrospective multisite study.

Objective: This study sought to compare the effectiveness of the 3 most commonly prescribed maintenance medications in the United States indicated for the treatment of opioid dependence in reducing illicit drug use and retaining patients in treatment.

Method: Data were abstracted from electronic medical records for 3,233 patients admitted to 34 maintenance treatment facilities located throughout the United States during the period of July 1, 2012, through July 1, 2013. Patients were grouped into 1 of 3 medication categories based on their selection at intake (methadone [n = 2,738; M dosage = 64.

The continuing care model of substance use treatment: what works, and when is "enough," "enough?".

There is little disagreement in the substance use treatment literature regarding the conceptualization of substance dependence as a cyclic, chronic condition consisting of alternating episodes of treatment and subsequent relapse. Likewise, substance use treatment efforts are increasingly being contextualized within a similar disease management framework, much like that of other chronic medical conditions (diabetes, hypertension, etc.).