Patients with substance use disorder had greater access to treatment and were more likely to refrain from using drugs when cared for within a primary care setting that had an integrated behavioral health component compared to patients who only received a referral to see an addiction treatment specialist, according to a new study.
The study, published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine, found 39% of patients treated in a collaborated primary care model received addiction treatment versus just 17% of the group who received standard primary care. Also, 32% of patients in the collaborated model reported remaining abstinent from opioids or alcohol after six months compared to 22% of patients in standard primary care.
“These findings suggest that treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders can be integrated into primary care, and that primary care-based treatment is effective for opioid and alcohol use disorders,” the study concluded.
More than 20 million Americans are estimated to have some sort of substance use disorder, according to the American Society Addiction Medicine, of which, roughly 15 million have a dependence to alcohol and more than two million abuse either prescription pain relievers or heroin.
However, only 2.2 million receive any type of treatment for their addiction, according to a 2016 report by the U.S. Surgeon General, with more than 63% receiving such treatment within a specialty substance use disorder treatment program.
Researchers conducting the JAMA-published study examined patients who visited a Federally Qualified Health Center in Los Angeles between June 2014 and January 2016. Nearly 400 patients screened positive for substance use disorder and were randomly placed in a coordinated care or usual care setting.
Patients in the coordinated care arm had access to an onsite behavioral health specialist and were assigned care coordinators who tracked their progress for up to six month safter treatment. They were told the clinic provided addiction treatment and were given a number for appointment scheduling and list of community referrals.
The ability to provide substance use disorder treatment within a primary care setting could potentially expand access to such therapies for millions.
“Although treatment in specialty settings is important for individuals with severe dependence, limited availability and stigma mean that specialty care alone is insufficient to address treatment needs,” study authors wrote. “Primary care offers an important and underutilized setting for opioid and alcohol use disorder treatment.”