Long‐term outcomes after randomization to buprenorphine/naloxone versus methadone in a multi‐site trial
- 24 November 2015
- Vol. 111 (4), 695-705
- https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13238
Abstract
Aims To compare long‐term outcomes among participants randomized to buprenorphine or methadone. Design, Setting and Participants Follow‐up was conducted in 2011–14 of 1080 opioid‐dependent participants entering seven opioid treatment programs in the United States between 2006 and 2009 and randomized (within each program) to receive open‐label buprenorphine/naloxone or methadone for up to 24 weeks; 795 participants completed in‐person interviews (~74% follow‐up interview rate) covering on average 4.5 years. Measurements Outcomes were indicated by mortality and opioid use. Covariates included demographics, site, cocaine use and treatment experiences. Findings Mortality was not different between the two randomized conditions, with 23 (3.6%) of 630 participants randomized to buprenorphine having died versus 26 (5.8%) of 450 participants randomized to methadone. Opioid use at follow‐up was higher among participants randomized to buprenorphine relative to methadone [42.8 versus 31.7% positive opioid urine specimens, P < 0.01, effect size (h) = 0.23 (0.09, 0.38); 5.8 days versus 4.4 days of past 30‐day heroin use, P < 0.05, effect size (d) = 0.14 (0.00, 0.28)]. Opioid use during the follow‐up period by randomization condition was also significant (F(7,39 600) = 3.16; P < 0.001) due mainly to less treatment participation among participants randomized to buprenorphine than methadone. Less opioid use was associated with both buprenorphine and methadone treatment (relative to no treatment); no difference was found between the two treatments. Individuals who are white or used cocaine at baseline responded better to methadone than to buprenorphine. Conclusions There are few differences in long‐term outcomes between buprenorphine and methadone treatment for opioid dependence, and treatment with each medication is associated with a strong reduction in opioid use.Keywords
This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit:
- Treatment retention among patients randomized to buprenorphine/naloxone compared to methadone in a multi‐site trialAddiction, 2013
- Integrating buprenorphine maintenance therapy into federally qualified health centers: Real-world substance abuse treatment outcomesDrug and Alcohol Dependence, 2013
- Buprenorphine/Naloxone and methadone effects on laboratory indices of liver health: A randomized trialDrug and Alcohol Dependence, 2012
- Maintenance Medication for Opiate Addiction: The Foundation of RecoveryJournal of Addictive Diseases, 2012
- Comparing retention in treatment and mortality in people after initial entry to methadone and buprenorphine treatmentAddiction, 2009
- The effect of persistence of cocaine use on 12-month outcomes for the treatment of heroin dependenceDrug and Alcohol Dependence, 2006
- Methamphetamine-Using HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men: Correlates of Polydrug UseJournal of Urban Health, 2005
- Self-Reported Psychopathology in Polydrug UsersJournal of Psychopharmacology, 2004
- The long-term outcomes of drug use by methadone maintenance patientsThe Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 2003
- Reliability of retrospective self-report by narcotics addicts.Psychological Assessment, 1992