Sarah M Bagley1, Scott E Hadland2, Samantha F Schoenberger3, Mam Jarra Gai4, Deric Topp3, Eliza Hallett5, Erin Ashe6, Jeffrey H Samet7, Alexander Y Walley7. 1. Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States of America; Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, 801 Albany Street, Room 2055, Boston, MA 02119, United States of America; Grayken Center for Addiction, Boston Medical Center, One Boston Medical Center Place, Boston, MA 02118, United States of America. Electronic address: sarah.bagley@bmc.org. 2. Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, 801 Albany Street, Room 2055, Boston, MA 02119, United States of America; Grayken Center for Addiction, Boston Medical Center, One Boston Medical Center Place, Boston, MA 02118, United States of America. 3. Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States of America. 4. Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston Medical Center, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States of America. 5. Center for the Urban Child and Healthy Family, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, One Boston Medical Center Place, Boston, MA 02118, United States of America. 6. Boston Medical Center, One Boston Medical Center Pl, Boston, MA 02118, United States of America. 7. Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States of America; Grayken Center for Addiction, Boston Medical Center, One Boston Medical Center Place, Boston, MA 02118, United States of America.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Substance use disorders are common chronic conditions that often begin and develop during adolescence and young adulthood, yet the delivery of primary care is not developmentally tailored for youth who use substances. Very few primary care-based substance use treatment programs exist in the United States for adolescents and young adults and no clear guidance is available about how to provide substance use treatment in primary care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective evaluation from July 2016 to December 2018 of a newly established primary care-based, multidisciplinary, outpatient program for youth who use substances. Components of the program include primary care, addiction treatment, harm reduction, naloxone distribution, psychotherapy, recovery support, and navigation addressing social determinants of health. We report the following patient characteristics and outcomes: demographics; proportion with substance use and mental health diagnoses; receipt of medications for opioid use disorder; retention in care at three, six, nine, and 12 months; and re-engagement in medical care. RESULTS: From July 2016 through December 2018, 148 patients had at least one visit. Demographic characteristics included: median age 21 years; 40.5% female; 94.0% spoke primarily English; 18.3% Black, 14.9% Hispanic, and 60.8% white. One-third of patients (33.8%) were homeless or housing insecure. The most common substance use disorder was opioid use disorder (60.8%), followed by nicotine (37.2%), cannabis (20.9%), and alcohol (18.2%). Overall, 29.7% of patients had depression, 32.4% had anxiety disorder, and 18.9% had post-traumatic stress disorder. Retention in care was 29.7% at six months and 12.2% at 12 months. Among the 90 patients with OUD, 90.0% received medication for OUD, and 35.5% and 15.5% of patients with OUD were retained at six and 12 months, respectively. For patients lost to follow-up (no contact during a three-month period), the median time to re-engagement was 4.8 months, and 33.3% (37/111) of patients re-engaged. The most common reason for re-engagement was to access mental health treatment (59.5%) and primary care (51.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Youth who sought care in a primary care-based substance use program presented most commonly with opioid, nicotine, cannabis, and alcohol use disorders. Co-morbid mental health diagnoses were common. While continuous retention at 12 months was low, one in three of the patients who fell out of care re-engaged. For youth receiving substance use care integrated into primary care, key components for pursing optimal retention in substance use treatment are a flexible model that anticipates the need for the treatment of mental health disorders and the use of re-engagement strategies.
BACKGROUND: Substance use disorders are common chronic conditions that often begin and develop during adolescence and young adulthood, yet the delivery of primary care is not developmentally tailored for youth who use substances. Very few primary care-based substance use treatment programs exist in the United States for adolescents and young adults and no clear guidance is available about how to provide substance use treatment in primary care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective evaluation from July 2016 to December 2018 of a newly established primary care-based, multidisciplinary, outpatient program for youth who use substances. Components of the program include primary care, addiction treatment, harm reduction, naloxone distribution, psychotherapy, recovery support, and navigation addressing social determinants of health. We report the following patient characteristics and outcomes: demographics; proportion with substance use and mental health diagnoses; receipt of medications for opioid use disorder; retention in care at three, six, nine, and 12 months; and re-engagement in medical care. RESULTS: From July 2016 through December 2018, 148 patients had at least one visit. Demographic characteristics included: median age 21 years; 40.5% female; 94.0% spoke primarily English; 18.3% Black, 14.9% Hispanic, and 60.8% white. One-third of patients (33.8%) were homeless or housing insecure. The most common substance use disorder was opioid use disorder (60.8%), followed by nicotine (37.2%), cannabis (20.9%), and alcohol (18.2%). Overall, 29.7% of patients had depression, 32.4% had anxiety disorder, and 18.9% had post-traumatic stress disorder. Retention in care was 29.7% at six months and 12.2% at 12 months. Among the 90 patients with OUD, 90.0% received medication for OUD, and 35.5% and 15.5% of patients with OUD were retained at six and 12 months, respectively. For patients lost to follow-up (no contact during a three-month period), the median time to re-engagement was 4.8 months, and 33.3% (37/111) of patients re-engaged. The most common reason for re-engagement was to access mental health treatment (59.5%) and primary care (51.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Youth who sought care in a primary care-based substance use program presented most commonly with opioid, nicotine, cannabis, and alcohol use disorders. Co-morbid mental health diagnoses were common. While continuous retention at 12 months was low, one in three of the patients who fell out of care re-engaged. For youth receiving substance use care integrated into primary care, key components for pursing optimal retention in substance use treatment are a flexible model that anticipates the need for the treatment of mental health disorders and the use of re-engagement strategies.
Authors: Dennis McCarty; Brian Chan; Bradley M Buchheit; Christina Bougatsos; Sara Grusing; Roger Chou Journal: J Addict Med Date: 2022 May-Jun 01 Impact factor: 4.647