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A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration
Published on: January 22, 2016
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Changes in methadone take-home dosing before and after COVID-19
Ofer Amram1, Solmaz Amiri2, Emily L Thorn3
1Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
|July 26, 2021
Summary
During COVID-19, methadone take-home doses increased for all patients. Those using methamphetamine saw the largest increase, receiving the same take-home doses as non-users.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic prompted federal exemptions for methadone take-home doses.
- Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) adapted to provide greater access to medication for opioid use disorder (OUD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the adoption of increased methadone take-home doses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To determine if increased take-home doses were associated with specific client characteristics.
Main Methods:
- A pre-post study design was employed.
- Data were collected from 194 adult OUD clients at an OTP in Spokane, Washington.
- Changes in take-home methadone doses were analyzed three months before and after the March 2020 exemption, considering client demographics and substance use.
Main Results:
- All participants experienced an average increase of 41.4 take-home methadone doses post-exemption.
- Clients reporting methamphetamine use in the last 30 days showed a significantly larger increase (55.6 days) compared to non-users (p ≤0.001).
- No other client characteristics were significantly associated with changes in take-home doses.
Conclusions:
- The Spokane OTP successfully expanded take-home methadone dosing in response to the COVID-19 exemption.
- Clients with concurrent methamphetamine use, previously allowed fewer doses, received parity in take-home dosing after the exemption.
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