Retaining patients in buprenorphine treatment is essential in maximising treatment outcomes and minimising mortality risk. Delivery of treatment via novel depot buprenorphine products has the potential to enhance patient adherence and retention in treatment. In settings such as Australia, where there is a focus on supervised daily dosing, the reduced frequency of dosing required for a monthly buprenorphine injection may free up service-level resources currently allocated patient monitoring and potentially increase treatment capacity. However, more real work data are needed.
CoLAB is an open-label cohort study of depot buprenorphine evaluating patient outcomes and process and cost implications of implementation in a variety of models of care.
This open-label trial is one component of an overall program of work that aims:
1. To evaluate the patient outcomes following the implementation of a monthly injection of extended-release BPN for the treatment of opioid dependence in community-based treatment settings with a focus on opioid and other illicit drug use, adherence with the administration schedule and participants’ experiences of the implementation; and
2. To develop and document the implementation of a monthly injection of extended-release BPN for the treatment of opioid dependence in community-based treatment setting with an emphasis on the feasibility and practical clinical, regulatory and supply issues in settings representative of Australian clinical practice.
Read more on the NDARC website.
