Demographic differences in services utilization across in-person (2019), telehealth (2020), and hybrid (2021) outpatient substance use services in New York.

Objectives: Many outpatient substance use programs have experienced in-person, remote/telehealth, and hybrid models of care since the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic. Changes in treatment models naturally affect service utilization and may affect treatment trajectories. Currently, limited research examines the implications of different health care models on service utilization and patient outcomes in substance use treatment.

Where Do We Go From Here? The Delivery of Addiction Treatment in a Post-COVID World.

Many healthcare institutions across the nation experienced significant disruptions in addiction treatment services as a result of COVID-19. As restrictions now begin to loosen, there is an opportunity to transition towards a new treatment structure informed by the experience from both the current public health crisis and precrisis operations. However, there is currently limited information on how best to do so, leaving many providers and specialty programs searching for answers.

Geriatric Conditions Among Middle-aged and Older Adults on Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: The number of older adults on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for opioid use disorder is increasing, but little is known about the characteristics and healthcare needs of this aging treatment population. This population may experience accelerated aging due to comorbidities and health behaviors. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of geriatric conditions among adults age ≥50 on MMT to a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults.

Integrating Buprenorphine Into an Opioid Treatment Program: Tailoring Care for Patients With Opioid Use Disorders.

Objectives: This report identifies the institutional barriers to, and benefits of, buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT) integration in an established hospital-based opioid treatment program (OTP).

Methods: This case study presents the authors' experiences at the clinic, hospital, and corporation levels during efforts to integrate BMT into a hospital-based OTP in New York City and a descriptive quantitative analysis of the characteristics of hospital outpatients treated with buprenorphine from 2006 to 2013 (N=735).

Results: Integration of BMT into an OTP offered patients the flexibility to transition between intensive structured care and primary care or outpatient psychiatry according to need.

Demographic Trends of Adults in New York City Opioid Treatment Programs--An Aging Population.

Background: The population of adults accessing opioid treatment is growing older, but exact estimates vary widely, and little is known about the characteristics of the aging treatment population. Further, there has been little research regarding the epidemiology, healt h status, and functional impairments in this population.

Objectives: To determine the utilization of opioid treatment services by older adults in New York City.

The interface between substance abuse and chronic pain management in primary care: a curriculum for medical residents.

Objectives: To develop and assess a housestaff curriculum on opioid and other substance abuse among patients with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP).

Methods: The two-hour, case-based curriculum delivered to small groups of medical housestaff sought to improve assessment and management of opioid-treated CNCP patients, including those with a substance use disorder. A two-page pre-post survey was administered to assess self-efficacy change on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

Training physicians to treat substance use disorders.

The importance of training physicians to effectively assess and manage substance use disorders has become increasingly recognized. Studies highlighting the effort to enhance curricula are described and common practices identified. Preferable curricula incorporate interactive teaching methods along with experiential and didactic components.