nj acts logoPlease read Dr. Crystal’s article in Drug and Alcohol Dependence titled, “Opioid overdose survivors: Medications for opioid use disorder and risk of repeat overdose in Medicaid patients.

Patients treated for opioid overdose accounted for 305,623 visits to US emergency departments in 2017, and have represented an increasing share of ED visits since, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (Centers for Disease Control, 2021aCenters for Disease Control, 2021b). Patients experiencing these events are at high risk for subsequent adverse outcomes, including repeat overdose. Assertive, systemic strategies are needed to engage overdose survivors in treatment with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD); however, studies earlier in the opioid epidemic found low rates of post-overdose treatment initiation. Intervention is complicated by inconsistent access to treatment, the very limited proportion of physicians who prescribe MOUD, and extensive behavioral health and medical comorbidity. To read the full article.

Opioid overdose survivors: Medications for opioid use disorder and risk of repeat overdose in Medicaid patients. Crystal S, Nowels M, Samples H, Olfson M, Williams AR, Treitler P. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022 Mar 1;232:109269. PMID: 35038609 PMCID: PMC8943804DOI: 1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109269 Epub 2022 Jan 10.