Less pain, more gain: buprenorphine-naloxone and patient retention in treatment

Research indicates that persons addicted to opiates are likely to relapse following treatment or are at risk of terminating treatment early. The withdrawal experience may be one factor underlying early treatment discharge and several medications, including buprenorphine-naloxone, have been used to reduce withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. This retrospective study sought to determine whether patients who received buprenorphine-naloxone were retained in treatment longer than those who did not receive the medication. Data were collected on 170 patients admitted to the detoxification unit who either received (n = 85) or did not receive (n = 85) the medication. Differences in lengths of stay were found between the groups, thus warranting future research on the usefulness of buprenorphine-naloxone during detoxification and subsequent treatment. The importance of detoxification as an initial phase of treatment in relation to patient retention is discussed.