Buprenorphine/naloxone induction in a Canadian emergency department with rapid access to community-based addictions providers.

OBJECTIVES: Opioid-related emergency department (ED) visits have increased significantly in recent years. Our objective was to evaluate an ED-initiated buprenorphine/naloxone program, which provided rapid access to an outpatient community-based addictions clinic, for patients in opioid withdrawal.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review was completed within a health system encompassing four community EDs in Ontario, Canada. Patients were screened for opioid withdrawal between April 2017-December 2017 and offered buprenorphine/naloxone treatment and referral to outpatient addictions follow-up. The main outcome measure was treatment retention in the six-month period after the index visit.

RESULTS: The overall sample (N = 49) showed high healthcare utilization in the year prior to the index ED visit. 88% of patients (n = 43) consented to ED-initiated buprenorphine/naloxone and were referred to outpatient addictions follow-up, with 54% attending the initial follow-up visit. In the 6-month follow-up period from the index ED visit, 35% of patients were receiving ongoing buprenorphine/naloxone treatment and 2.3% were weaned off opioids. Patients with ongoing treatment had significantly lower number of ED visits at 3 and 6 months (3 and 10, respectively) compared to patients who did not show up for outpatient follow-up (28, 40) or started/stopped treatment (23, 41).

CONCLUSIONS: Screening for opioid use disorder in the ED and initiating buprenorphine/naloxone treatment with rapid referral to an outpatient community-based addictions clinic led to a 6-month treatment retention rate of 37% and a significant reduction in ED visits at 3 and 6 months. Buprenorphine/naloxone initiation in the ED appears to be an effective intervention, but further research is needed.