Development and Testing of a Peer Recovery Support Services Intervention for Retention on Medications for Opioid Use...

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) is crucial for treatment retention.
• Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS) show promise in supporting individuals with substance use disorders.
• Integrating PRSS with MOUD may enhance treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a PRSS intervention designed to improve MOUD retention.
• To assess if PRSS enhances medication adherence and reduces opioid use in a residential setting.

Main Methods:

• A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 40 adults in residential programs receiving MOUD.
• Participants were randomized to MOUD-focused PRSS or usual care for 24 weeks.
• Outcomes included MOUD adherence, retention metrics, opioid use, and intervention acceptability.

Main Results:

• No significant group differences were found in MOUD adherence (PRSS: 126 days, Usual Care: 127 days).
• High overall MOUD adherence (approximately 75%) was observed in both groups, suggesting a potential ceiling effect.
• Participants highly rated the PRSS intervention's acceptability and feasibility.

Conclusions:

• The PRSS intervention was found to be acceptable and feasible for individuals on MOUD.
• The study did not support the hypothesis that PRSS enhances MOUD adherence, possibly due to high baseline adherence.
• Further research is needed to test PRSS in populations facing greater MOUD retention challenges.