Brief vs. extended buprenorphine detoxification in a community treatment program: engagement and short-term outcomes.
BACKGROUND
Despite evidence supporting the efficacy of buprenorphine relative to established detoxification agents such as clonidine, little research has examined: 1) how best to implement buprenorphine detoxification in outpatient settings; and 2) whether extending the length of buprenorphine detoxification improves treatment engagement and outcomes.


OBJECTIVE
The current study examined the impact on 1) successful detoxification completion; 2) transition to longer-term treatment; and 3) treatment engagement of two different length opioid detoxifications using buprenorphine.


METHODS
The study compared data obtained from two consecutive studies of early treatment engagement strategies. In one study (n = 364), opioid-addicted participants entered treatment through a Brief (5-day) buprenorphine detoxification. In the other study (n = 146), participants entered treatment through an Extended (i.e., 30-day) buprenorphine detoxification.


RESULTS
Results indicated a greater likelihood of successful completion and of transition among participants who received the Extended as compared to the Brief detoxification. Extended detoxification participants attended more counseling sessions and submitted fewer drug-positive urine specimens during the first 30 days of treatment, inclusive of detoxification, than did Brief detoxification participants.


CONCLUSIONS
Results demonstrate that longer periods of detoxification improve participant engagement in treatment and early treatment outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Current findings demonstrate the feasibility of implementing an extended buprenorphine detoxification within a community-based treatment clinic.
Katz
Elizabeth C
EC
Towson University, Maryland 21252, USA. ekatz@towson.edu
Schwartz
Robert P
RP
King
Stuart
S
Highfield
David A
DA
O'Grady
Kevin E
KE
Billings
Timothy
T
Gandhi
Devang
D
Weintraub
Eric
E
Glovinsky
David
D
Barksdale
Wardell
W
Brown
Barry S
BS
D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D002047:Buprenorphine