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About 50% of patients receiving buprenorphine for opioid dependence discontinue within 6 months, and the ensuing overdose, relapse, and complication rates are considerable. To study patients who discontinue buprenorphine after longer treatment periods, investigators analyzed national Medicaid data on 8996 patients who discontinued buprenorphine treatment (determined by lack of prescription refills) and remained on Medicaid for ≥6 more months.
Patients were grouped by time retained in treatment: 6–9 months (n=4126), 9–12 months (n=2440), 12–15 months (n=1449), and 15–18 months (n=931). Psychiatric comorbidities were diagnosed in roughly 30% of the overall group, 5% with alcohol use disorder, and about 20% with nonopioid drug disorder.
After di…