Long-acting injectable formulations of buprenorphine can be a good treatment option for patients with opioid use disorder, particularly for those with poor adherence. However, starting long-acting injectable medications typically requires the patient to be on a stable dose of sublingual buprenorphine. Here, researchers demonstrate the feasibility of starting buprenorphine with a microinduction approach followed shortly by administration of a long-acting injection.

Drug overdose mortality has increased nearly every year since the overdose epidemic began three decades ago. However, 2024 saw an unprecedented drop in overdose deaths across the country. Researchers are working to better understand this change, but it is almost certain that increasing availability of naloxone, widespread adoption of harm reduction practices, and improving rates of MOUD treatment played important roles in this encouraging shift.

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Buprenorphine induction typically requires that a patient experience moderate opioid withdrawal before starting the medication in order to avoid precipitating severe withdrawal symptoms. This waiting period is uncomfortable and can be a treatment barrier. In this study, researchers develop and test an induction protocol using injectable buprenorphine that gets around this initial waiting period.