Willingness to receive medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD): A longitudinal analysis of social network support

Background: Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD, i.e., buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone) save lives, but many individuals are unwilling to receive MOUD treatment. Few longitudinal studies have examined whether social network support for MOUD is related to willingness to receive MOUD. Methods: Egocentric network data were collected from 393 adults with OUD who were incarcerated in 14 Kentucky prisons; follow-up data were collected about six months post-release. For each named alter, participants (egos) reported on perceived alters’ support for buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone at baseline and follow-up; baseline network scores were averaged into a network support for MOUD score and a change score from baseline to follow-up was calculated. Multiple imputation by chained equations addressed missing data. A multivariate linear regression model of willingness to receive MOUD at follow-up was estimated that included baseline network support for MOUD, change in network support, baseline willingness to receive MOUD, lifetime history of MOUD, and demographics. Results: Baseline network support for MOUD was positively associated with willingness to receive MOUD at follow-up (b=0.190, 95 % CI: 0.072–0.308, p < .01). Increase in network support for MOUD over time was also positively associated with willingness to receive MOUD at follow-up (b=0.210, 95 % CI: 0.102–0.319, p < .001). Conclusion: Social network support for MOUD, both the initial level and change over time, was associated with participants’ willingness to receive MOUD. These findings suggest that intervention development focused on increasing social network support may have utility in increasing uptake of MOUD.