The COVID-19 pandemic and opioid use disorder: Expanding treatment with buprenorphine, and combining safety precautions with telehealth. 2022

Richard H Cales, and Shannon C Cales, and Jacob Shreffler, and Martin R Huecker
NuLease Medical Solutions, LLC, Louisville, KY, United States of America. Electronic address: rick@cales.com.

This study investigated the efficacy and safety of providing medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and individualized telehealth in Kentucky, a state severely impacted simultaneously by the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation analyzed pre- and post-COVID-19 characteristics in 191 opioid use disorder (OUD) buprenorphine outpatients who completed an 18-question survey in late 2020 related to COVID testing, OUD relapses, obstacles to maintaining abstinence, and treatment resources. The study revealed no statistically significant changes in drug use before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic despite monthly volume increases. Results further demonstrated statistically significant barriers to treatment, including loss of housing and transportation, food insecurity, and onset of depression. No patients required hospitalization or succumbed to OUD or COVID-19. Potentially effective resource utilization findings included clinic transportation and 24/7 crisis intervention. Respondents rated telehealth as helpful when used in an individualized hybrid model matching patient's need to available resources based on COVID-19 safety guidelines. This report yields key clinical insights into providing outpatient MOUD care during the COVID-19 pandemic, validating in-person care as both safe and effective. Patients' experiences proved helpful in identifying and quantifying obstacles to abstinence in conjunction with facilitating continued patient access to essential clinical resources. Notably, telehealth can supplement rather than replace in-person treatment.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009293 Opioid-Related Disorders Disorders related to or resulting from abuse or misuse of OPIOIDS. Opiate Addiction,Opiate Dependence,Opioid Misuse,Opioid Use Disorder,Prescription Opioid Abuse,Prescription Opioid Misuse,Addiction, Opioid,Dependence, Opioid,Opiate Abuse,Opioid Abuse,Opioid Addiction,Opioid Dependence,Abuse, Opiate,Abuse, Opioid,Abuse, Prescription Opioid,Addiction, Opiate,Dependence, Opiate,Disorder, Opioid Use,Misuse, Opioid,Misuse, Prescription Opioid,Opiate Abuses,Opioid Abuse, Prescription,Opioid Abuses,Opioid Addictions,Opioid Dependences,Opioid Misuses,Opioid Related Disorders,Opioid Use Disorders,Opioid-Related Disorder,Prescription Opioid Abuses,Prescription Opioid Misuses
D002047 Buprenorphine A derivative of the opioid alkaloid THEBAINE that is a more potent and longer lasting analgesic than MORPHINE. It appears to act as a partial agonist at mu and kappa opioid receptors and as an antagonist at delta receptors. The lack of delta-agonist activity has been suggested to account for the observation that buprenorphine tolerance may not develop with chronic use. 6029-M,Buprenex,Buprenorphine Hydrochloride,Buprex,Prefin,RX-6029-M,Subutex,Temgesic,Temgésic,6029 M,6029M,Hydrochloride, Buprenorphine,RX 6029 M,RX6029M
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000086382 COVID-19 A viral disorder generally characterized by high FEVER; COUGH; DYSPNEA; CHILLS; PERSISTENT TREMOR; MUSCLE PAIN; HEADACHE; SORE THROAT; a new loss of taste and/or smell (see AGEUSIA and ANOSMIA) and other symptoms of a VIRAL PNEUMONIA. In severe cases, a myriad of coagulopathy associated symptoms often correlating with COVID-19 severity is seen (e.g., BLOOD COAGULATION; THROMBOSIS; ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME; SEIZURES; HEART ATTACK; STROKE; multiple CEREBRAL INFARCTIONS; KIDNEY FAILURE; catastrophic ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODY SYNDROME and/or DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION). In younger patients, rare inflammatory syndromes are sometimes associated with COVID-19 (e.g., atypical KAWASAKI SYNDROME; TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME; pediatric multisystem inflammatory disease; and CYTOKINE STORM SYNDROME). A coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, in the genus BETACORONAVIRUS is the causative agent. 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease,2019 Novel Coronavirus Infection,2019-nCoV Disease,2019-nCoV Infection,COVID-19 Pandemic,COVID-19 Pandemics,COVID-19 Virus Disease,COVID-19 Virus Infection,Coronavirus Disease 2019,Coronavirus Disease-19,SARS Coronavirus 2 Infection,SARS-CoV-2 Infection,Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection,COVID19,2019 nCoV Disease,2019 nCoV Infection,2019-nCoV Diseases,2019-nCoV Infections,COVID 19,COVID 19 Pandemic,COVID 19 Virus Disease,COVID 19 Virus Infection,COVID-19 Virus Diseases,COVID-19 Virus Infections,Coronavirus Disease 19,Disease 2019, Coronavirus,Disease, 2019-nCoV,Disease, COVID-19 Virus,Infection, 2019-nCoV,Infection, COVID-19 Virus,Infection, SARS-CoV-2,Pandemic, COVID-19,SARS CoV 2 Infection,SARS-CoV-2 Infections,Virus Disease, COVID-19,Virus Infection, COVID-19
D000086402 SARS-CoV-2 A species of BETACORONAVIRUS causing atypical respiratory disease (COVID-19) in humans. The organism was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China. The natural host is the Chinese intermediate horseshoe bat, RHINOLOPHUS affinis. 2019 Novel Coronavirus,COVID-19 Virus,COVID19 Virus,Coronavirus Disease 2019 Virus,SARS Coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2 Virus,Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2,Wuhan Coronavirus,Wuhan Seafood Market Pneumonia Virus,2019-nCoV,2019 Novel Coronaviruses,COVID 19 Virus,COVID-19 Viruses,COVID19 Viruses,Coronavirus 2, SARS,Coronavirus, 2019 Novel,Coronavirus, Wuhan,Novel Coronavirus, 2019,SARS CoV 2 Virus,SARS-CoV-2 Viruses,Virus, COVID-19,Virus, COVID19,Virus, SARS-CoV-2,Viruses, COVID19
D000086742 COVID-19 Testing Diagnosis of COVID-19 by assaying bodily fluids or tissues for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies, SARS-COV-2 antigens or the VIRAL RNA of SARS-COV-2. 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease Testing,2019 Novel Coronavirus Testing,2019-nCoV Disease Testing,2019-nCoV Infection Testing,2019-nCoV Testing,COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing,COVID-19 Virus Testing,COVID19 Testing,COVID19 Virus Testing,Coronavirus Disease 2019 Testing,Coronavirus Disease-19 Testing,SARS Coronavirus 2 Testing,SARS-CoV-2 Testing,Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Testing,2019 nCoV Disease Testing,2019 nCoV Infection Testing,2019 nCoV Testing,2019-nCoV Disease Testings,2019-nCoV Infection Testings,2019-nCoV Testings,COVID 19 Diagnostic Testing,COVID 19 Testing,COVID 19 Virus Testing,COVID-19 Diagnostic Testings,COVID-19 Testings,COVID-19 Virus Testings,COVID19 Testings,COVID19 Virus Testings,Coronavirus Disease 19 Testing,Coronavirus Disease-19 Testings,Diagnostic Testing, COVID-19,Disease Testing, 2019-nCoV,Infection Testing, 2019-nCoV,SARS CoV 2 Testing,SARS-CoV-2 Testings,Testing, 2019-nCoV,Testing, 2019-nCoV Disease,Testing, 2019-nCoV Infection,Testing, COVID-19,Testing, COVID-19 Virus,Testing, COVID19,Testing, COVID19 Virus,Testing, Coronavirus Disease-19,Testing, SARS-CoV-2,Virus Testing, COVID-19,Virus Testing, COVID19
D000701 Analgesics, Opioid Compounds with activity like OPIATE ALKALOIDS, acting at OPIOID RECEPTORS. Properties include induction of ANALGESIA or NARCOSIS. Opioid,Opioid Analgesic,Opioid Analgesics,Opioids,Full Opioid Agonists,Opioid Full Agonists,Opioid Mixed Agonist-Antagonists,Opioid Partial Agonists,Partial Opioid Agonists,Agonist-Antagonists, Opioid Mixed,Agonists, Full Opioid,Agonists, Opioid Full,Agonists, Opioid Partial,Agonists, Partial Opioid,Analgesic, Opioid,Full Agonists, Opioid,Mixed Agonist-Antagonists, Opioid,Opioid Agonists, Full,Opioid Agonists, Partial,Opioid Mixed Agonist Antagonists,Partial Agonists, Opioid
D017216 Telemedicine Delivery of health services via remote telecommunications. This includes interactive consultative and diagnostic services. Tele-Care,Tele-ICU,Tele-Intensive Care,Tele-Referral,Telecare,Virtual Medicine,Mobile Health,Telehealth,eHealth,mHealth,Health, Mobile,Medicine, Virtual,Tele Care,Tele ICU,Tele Intensive Care,Tele Referral,Tele-Referrals
D058850 Opiate Substitution Treatment Medication-assisted treatment of opioid dependence using a substitute opiate such as METHADONE or BUPRENORPHINE. Opiate Replacement Therapy,Opioid Maintenance Treatment,Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid,Opiate Medication-Assisted Treatment,Opioid Medication Assisted Treatment,Opioid Replacement Therapy,Opioid Substitution Therapy,Opioid Substitution Treatment,Maintenance Treatment, Opioid,Medication-Assisted Treatment, Opiate,Opiate Medication Assisted Treatment,Opiate Medication-Assisted Treatments,Opiate Replacement Therapies,Opiate Substitution Treatments,Opioid Maintenance Treatments,Opioid Replacement Therapies,Opioid Substitution Therapies,Opioid Substitution Treatments,Replacement Therapy, Opiate,Replacement Therapy, Opioid,Substitution Therapy, Opioid,Substitution Treatment, Opiate,Substitution Treatment, Opioid,Therapy, Opioid Substitution,Treatment, Opioid Maintenance
D058873 Pandemics Epidemics of infectious disease that have spread to many countries, often more than one continent, and usually affecting a large number of people. Pandemic

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