Evaluation of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Evaluation of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Subcontract from RTI International Untreated opioid use disorder (OUD) is associated with significant negative public health impacts, including overdose, death, and transmission of infectious diseases. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), with methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone, is effective relative to placebo. However, there are substantial knowledge gaps regarding the comparative effectiveness of these three medications as well as the magnitude of the differences of MAT effectiveness relative to psycho-social non-MAT treatment. Furthermore, it is unclear whether specific sub-sets of patients would benefit more from certain medications than others, and whether treatment program-level factors are associated with patient-level outcomes. The proposed four-year study has three primary aims: (1) to compare the effectiveness of 3 medications for treating OUD and psycho-social treatment on outcomes of health, quality of life, OUD recovery, criminal justice involvement, and fatal and non-fatal overdose; (2) to examine patient-level characteristics associated with these outcomes, and (3) to explore associations between program-level characteristics and patient-level outcomes. To accomplish these aims, a cohort of approximately 1,200 individuals receiving OUD treatment in MAT and non-MAT settings across the US will be recruited, with data collected at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. Data collection will involve surveys of patients, surveys of treatment providers, data extractions from electronic health records, and focus groups. Findings from this study will be disseminated via reports to key stakeholders as well as manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals. It is anticipated that study findings be used to improve efforts to provide patient-centered care to individuals with OUD by better matching specific types of MAT to the needs of patients.