Pilot Test of a Community-based Buprenorphine Treatment Intervention

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), The City University of New York, Washington Heights Corner Project

The main goal of this study is to pilot test the community-based buprenorphine treatment (CBBT) intervention, examining buprenorphine treatment initiation, opioid use, and HIV risk behaviors. Two groups of participants will be followed for 60 days, with 3 research visits. One group will be enrolled prior to the CBBT intervention (pre-intervention), and one group after the CBBT intervention (post-intervention). Data sources will include questionnaires, urine toxicology tests, and medical record data. Investigators hypothesize that compared to the participants in the pre-intervention group, participants in the post-intervention group will be more likely to initiate buprenorphine treatment, reduce opioid use, and reduce high-risk HIV risk behaviors.

Opioid dependence, Injection drug use, Buprenorphine, Opioid agonist treatment, Access to care, HIV risk behaviors, Opioids

Participants will be enrolled prior to the implementation of the community-based buprenorphine treatment (CBBT) intervention.

Participants will be enrolled after implementing the community-based buprenorphine treatment (CBBT) intervention

Community-based buprenorphine treatment (CBBT) intervention consists of three components which are delivered to staff of syringe exchange programs, including: 1) providing buprenorphine education, 2) facilitating access to buprenorphine treatment, and 3) providing support to individuals who initiate buprenorphine treatment.

Medical record information will be extracted to determine initiation of buprenorphine treatment, which will be defined as a visit with a medical provider in which buprenorphine is prescribed.

Opioid use will be determined via self-report using the Addiction Severity Index and via urine specimens (e.g., urine toxicology testing).

Drug- and sex-related HIV risk behaviors will be assessed using a standardized risk assessment tool used in NIDA's Clinical Trials Network.

Inclusion Criteria: at least 18 years old English or Spanish fluency ever injected drugs not receiving buprenorphine treatment (no prescribed buprenorphine in the previous 6 months) clients of our collaborating community-based organization interested in buprenorphine treatment Exclusion Criteria: pregnant taking more than 60mg of methadone daily in the previous 30 days