Survey of Treatment Preferences for Opioid Use Disorder.

Abstract

Objectives: This study gathered preliminary information on the initial feasibility of using injection Naltrexone (NTX) therapy in opioid users.

Methods: One hundred opioid users (36% female, 8% minorities, mean age 34.5±11.4 yrs.) undergoing a health screen to determine initial eligibility for an ongoing study completed the survey.

Results: Of the 100 respondents, 26, 16, 16, 1 and 0 reported prior treatment episodes of opioid detoxification, buprenorphine (BUP), methadone (MTD), oral NTX and injection NTX, respectively. Ninety and 71% were interested in participating in a study involving oral and/or injection NTX treatment, respectively. Reasons for not wanting to try injection NTX included fear of needles (n=13), side effects (n=7), lack of pain relief (n=12) and cost (n=3). A significantly higher percentage of those interested in injection NTX had episodes of prior opioid agonist maintenance treatment relative to those uninterested (32.4% vs 10.3%; Chi²=5.2, p<0.03). Those preferring injection NTX therapy showed a higher level of interest in this therapy (3.08±1.01 vs 1.62±1.35; Rank Sum p<0.0001) and a lower degree of interest in BUP treatment (2.96±0.93 vs 3.38±0.90; Rank Sum p< 0.03) than those not preferring injection NTX.

Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that those with prior, failed experience with opioid agonist maintenance treatment are more likely to consider injection NTX therapy, suggesting it may be optimal as a second-line treatment for OUD.