Medication Maintenance Therapy in Community Pharmacy Settings

To treat opioid use disorder, buprenorphine/naloxone will be provided by a study pharmacist under a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement on a weekly (buprenorphine/naloxone) basis, unless the care plan specifies greater frequency of pharmacy visit. The median expected dose of buprenorphine/naloxone (sublingual film or tablet) is 8 to 24 mg daily, and may be adjusted per the collaborative pharmacy practice agreement.

To treat opioid use disorder, injectable naltrexone will be provided by a study pharmacist under a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement on a monthly (injectable naltrexone) basis. The expected dose of injectable naltrexone will be approximately 380 mg. Injectable naltrexone will be dispensed and prepared by the pharmacist but administered by nursing staff for the pilot study.

Patients on a stable dose of buprenorphine/naloxone or naltrexone will receive maintenance care at the pharmacy for one month. Patients will visit weekly for check-ins with a pharmacist. Patients on buprenorphine/naloxone will be dispensed their medication at study visits, whereas patients taking injectable naltrexone will be dispensed it once by the pharmacist during the pilot. All patients will visit the pharmacy at least weekly for addiction care (assessment, toxicological testing).