CAREN logo

You are here

  1. Home
  2. A pilot randomized controlled trial of assertive treatment including family involvement and home delivery of medication for young adults with opioid use disorder

A pilot randomized controlled trial of assertive treatment including family involvement and home delivery of medication for young adults with opioid use disorder

Background and Aims: Although medications for opioid use disorder (OUD), including extended‐release naltrexone (XR‐NTX), have demonstrated effectiveness, adherence is often low. We tested the preliminary efficacy of youth opioid recovery support (YORS), a multi‐component intervention designed to improve engagement and medication adherence for young adults with OUD. Design: Single‐site randomized controlled trial with 24‐week follow‐up. Setting: Community substance use disorder treatment program in Baltimore, MD, USA. Participants: Young adults aged 18–26 years enrolled in inpatient/residential OUD treatment intending to pursue outpatient OUD treatment with XR‐NTX. Twenty‐one participants were randomized to YORS and 20 to treatment as usual (TAU). The analyzed sample was 65.8% male. Intervention and comparator: Components of YORS include: (1) home delivery of XR‐NTX; (2) family engagement; (3) assertive outreach; and (4) contingency management for receipt of XR‐NTX doses. The comparator was TAU, which consisted of a standard referral to outpatient care following an inpatient stay. Measurements Primary outcomes were number of XR‐NTX doses received over 24 weeks and relapse to opioid use (defined as ≥ 10 days of use within 28 days) at 24 weeks. Findings: Participants in the YORS condition received more XR‐NTX doses [mean = 4.28; standard deviation (SD) = 2.3] compared with those in TAU (mean = 0.70; SD = 1.2), P < 0.01. Participants in the YORS group compared with TAU had lower rates of relapse (61 versus 95%; P < 0.01). Survival analyses revealed group differences on time to relapse with participants in TAU being more likely to relapse sooner compared with participants in the YORS condition [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.26–5.88, P < 0.01]. Conclusions: The youth opioid recovery support intervention for extended‐release naltrexone adherence and opioid relapse prevention among young adults with opioid use disorder appeared to improve treatment and relapse outcomes compared with standard treatment.

Access source material through DOI
Original source (some source materials require subscription or permission to access)

Key Information

Type of Reference
Jour
Type of Work
Randomized controlled trial
Publisher
Wiley
ISBN/ISSN
0965-2140
Publication Year
2021
Issue Number
3
Journal Titles
Addiction
Volume Number
116
Start Page
548
End Page
557