Comparative Effectiveness of Buprenorphine/Naloxone and Methadone on Methamphetamine/Amphetamine Use Among People with Opioid Use Disorder in Canada

Original research
par
Langlois, Jenna et al

Date de publication

2024

Géographie

Canada

Langue de la ressource

English

Texte disponible en version intégrale

Oui

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Oui

Évalué par des pairs

Yes

L’objectif

It has been suggested that opioid agonist therapy (OAT) may have a secondary benefit of reducing methamphetamine/amphetamine use. However, current evidence is limited and conflicting, and little is known on the impacts of different OATs on methamphetamine/amphetamine use. The aim of this study was to examine the comparative effectiveness of buprenorphine/naloxone and methadone on methamphetamine/amphetamine use among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) initiating OAT in Canada.

Constatations/points à retenir

Methamphetamine/amphetamine use was common among this sample of people with OUD initiating OAT in Canada. Over the 24-week study period, buprenorphine/naloxone and methadone were not associated with a quantifiable change in methamphetamine/amphetamine use among this sample population. The observation of less methamphetamine/amphetamine use in the buprenorphine/naloxone arm warrants further research.

La conception ou méthodologie de recherche

Data for this study were derived from a 24-week pan-Canadian pragmatic trial conducted between 2017 and 2020 comparing supervised methadone versus flexible take-home dosing buprenorphine/naloxone models of care among OUD. Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate the independent effect of treatment (i.e., methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone) and time in treatment (i.e., week 2 through 24, continuous) on methamphetamine/amphetamine use (measured by urine drug test and self-report using Timeline Follow-Back).

Mots clés

About PWUD
Carries/take-home doses
Evidence base
Illegal drugs
Injecting drugs
Stimulants
Substitution/OAT
Opioids