Mobile, Community‐Based Buprenorphine Treatment for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness With Opioid Use Disorder: A Pilot, Feasibility Study
Theddeus Iheanacho, Kevin Payne, Jack Tsai
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adults experiencing homelessness with opioid use disorder (OUD) utilize buprenorphine (BUP), a first-line medication for OUD, at very low rates. Innovative and tailored approaches are needed to reduce barriers to treatment and increase utilization of BUP in this population. This study describes a pilot Mobile Community-based Access Team (M-CAT) that used mobile technology and FaceTime in addition to existing community-based case management programs to provide BUP treatment for veterans with OUD experiencing homelessness who had difficulties engaging in the regular BUP clinic. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of veterans enrolled in M-CAT or the usual BUP clinic between January 2015 and December 2017 (N = 36). We abstracted demographic, medical, substance use, prescription, health care utilization, and drug use data from medical records. RESULTS: Twelve veterans were enrolled in M-CAT and 24 were enrolled in BUP clinic. Mean retention in treatment was 19.2 months (standard deviation [SD] = 10.2) in M-CAT and 36 months (SD = 27.6) in BUP clinic. At the endpoint, 66.7% (n = 8) in M-CAT and 100% (n = 24) in BUP clinic remained on BUP. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: M-CAT is an innovative and tailored pilot project that successfully integrated specific OUD medication treatment into existing case management programs for veterans experiencing homelessness using mobile technology and Facetime. M-CAT can potentially increase utilization of BUP for OUD among high-risk population of veterans experiencing homelessness who are otherwise not engaged in treatment. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Integrating telemedicine, BUP treatment, and community-based case management to treat OUD among veterans experiencing homelessness is feasible with high treatment retention. (Am J Addict 2020;29:485-491).