The MOUD Plus Pilot: Counseling and Peer Support to Support Retention for Medically Complex Patients With Opioid Use Disorder Seen In Primary Care

Launched by OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · Feb 14, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The MOUD Plus Pilot trial is exploring whether adding counseling and peer support to regular medication treatment can help people with opioid use disorder (OUD) stay engaged in their care and continue their medication, specifically buprenorphine. The trial aims to see if this combination of support makes it easier for patients—especially those with other complex medical issues—to stick with their treatment and attend regular doctor visits.

To participate in this trial, individuals must be 18 years or older, have a diagnosis related to opioid use (like opioid dependence or abuse), and have accessed primary care services recently. Participants will meet with healthcare providers to receive their medication and will also work with a counselor for additional support. They will be paired with a community peer who will help them outside the clinic, as well as follow-up with study coordinators at 2, 3, and 6 months to discuss their experiences. This trial is not yet recruiting, but it represents an important step in finding ways to better support individuals struggling with opioid use and other health challenges.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• * Eligibility/Inclusion Criteria. For Aim 3, criteria we seek to recruit include:
• • Patient participants 18 years and older
• • Have an OUD-related diagnosis (e.g. Opioid Use Disorder in remission, Opioid Dependence, Opioid Abuse, Substance Use Disorder - opioids, etc.), or have used fentanyl or heroin over the past 30 days
• * Who meet at least one of the following criteria:
• • Present to primary care at Central City Concern (CCC) within 14 days (+/- 3 business days) of starting or re-starting a treatment episode (defined as starting MOUD after not having received prescribed MOUD in an outpatient setting for OUD in the prior 30 days).
• • Who present to primary care at CCC and are not seeking treatment with MOUD and have not engaged in counseling services (e.g. harm reduction counseling) in the prior 30 days
• • Have been receiving MOUD in prior 30 days but had a return to use (used fentanyl or heroin) within the past 30 days
• • Medical complexity (e.g. self-reported or verified in patient's electronic health record)
• • Have access to phone and/or computer for follow-up activities
• • Desire to engage in counseling and/or peer services
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patient participants who present for addiction treatment but are ineligible to receive on-going services at Central City (i.e. they have existing primary care at another location, or are currently receiving opioid use disorder treatment at another clinic, such as methadone clinic) may not participate in the study.
• • Patient participants who are not able to verbally consent may not participate in the study.
• • Patients who do not have addiction to opioids may not participate in the study.
• • Patients with severe and persistent mental illness (e.g., diagnosis of psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar) may not participate in the study.
• • Patients who participated in Aim 2 would not be eligible for Aim 3
• • Patients who lack stable phone access may not participate in the study.