Integrating peer support services into primary care-based OUD treatment: Lessons from the Penn integrated model

Levels of engagement among office-based opioid treatment (OBOT) patients with concurrent methamphetamine use

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Recent increases in methamphetamine use among people seeking treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) has created significant demand for effective approaches to support this clinical population. This study assessed the extent to which office-based opioid treatment (OBOT) patients, who were diagnosed with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD), engaged with providers.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted of adult patients (n = 470) seeking treatment for OUD who attended at least one visit between March 2020 and March 2023 at a rural regional OBOT provider. Approximately one quarter (28.7%) of patients were diagnosed with MUD in addition to receiving an OUD diagnosis. Bivariate methods and multivariate negative binomial regression models were estimated to examine the associations between clinical measures and the numbers of office visits, peer visits, and telehealth visits.

RESULTS

Regression results indicated patients who met criteria for MUD in addition to OUD attended a higher rate of peer visits (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 2.63, p = .036) when compared to patients who did not meet criteria for MUD. In contrast, patients with MUD and OUD diagnoses displayed significantly lower (IRR = 0.68, p < .001) engagement rates through fewer office visits relative to those who did not meet MUD criteria.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Patients seeking treatment for OUD who meet criteria for MUD are more likely to engage through peer support specialists rather than office visits.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

This study demonstrates the ways patients who meet criteria for OUD and MUD engage with providers to receive treatment.

The Lived Experiences of Pregnant and Parenting Women in Recovery Toward Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

BACKGROUND

Maternal misuse of prescription opioids and illicit drugs such as, heroin and non-pharmaceutical fentanyl analogs has increased in the last 2 decades and one in 5 women reported misuse of opioids. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are recommended for treating pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD). MOUD is effective in reducing cravings and negative outcomes, yet treatment is underutilized and varies in integration and intensity of resources across health systems. Exploring perceptions of MOUD delivery among pregnant/parenting women promises to uncover and address the underlying challenges to treatment, a perspective that may be different for providers and stakeholders. Therefore, our main purpose is to elicit patients' experiences and perceptions of MOUD, associated access to treatment, and availability of supportive resources during pregnancy/postpartum to inform OUD treatment.

METHODS

Through a qualitative research approach we gathered data from individual interviews/focus group discussions for this pilot study. Pregnant and postpartum parenting women (n = 17) responded to questions related to perceptions of MOUD, access to treatment, and availability of social and psychosocial resources. Data were collected, transcribed, and coded (by consensus) and emerging themes were analyzed using grounded theory methodology.

RESULTS

Emerging themes revealed positive uptake and perceptions of MOUD, continuing gaps in knowledge, negative impact of stigmatization, and limited access to programs and resources. Supportive relationships from family, peers, healthcare providers and child welfare staff, and co-located services were perceived as positive motivators to recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Through the unique lenses of women with lived experience, this study revealed several themes that can be transformative for women. Overall perceptions of MOUD were positive and likely to facilitate uptake and promote positive recovery outcomes. Bridging knowledge gaps will reduce anxieties, fears about neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and adverse maternal outcomes. Additionally, a deeper understanding of stigmatization and relationships can inform an integrated patient-centered approach to OUD treatment.

The Role of Peer Providers to Scale Up Psychological Treatments for Perinatal Populations Worldwide

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Psychological treatments remain largely inaccessible to perinatal populations despite their robust effectiveness. This gap is partly due to the limited number of available treatment providers. In this review, we critically evaluate recent literature on task-sharing to peer providers and propose future directions.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is a growing evidence base demonstrating that peer providers can effectively deliver psychological treatments for perinatal populations, as well as engage in processes critical to quality assurance, such as measurement-based peer supervision. Findings have also highlighted some benefits of peers over licensed healthcare providers, such as enhanced collaborative relationships, reduced stigma, provision of social comparisons, and increased accessibility. Peer providers may be one solution to improve access to psychological treatments for perinatal populations. However, there is a need to address clinical, professional, and health-system level barriers to effectively leverage this cadre of treatment providers.