TOPLINE:

Multifaceted intervention with evidence-based approaches at primary care clinics was associated with increased rates of treatment of patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and those with substance use disorder, but no changes in overdose outcomes.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers evaluated the effect of implementing evidence-based approaches for OUD treatment at primary care clinics in Oregon.
• The 15-month intervention started with a half-day training for primary care providers on evidence-based therapies and offered clinician education and group learning to promote safer opioid prescribing and better management of chronic pain.
• The analysis included 289 primary care providers who implemented the intervention and 2000 control providers who did not, identified using monthly prescribing and clinical data.
• Outcomes included treatment with medications for OUD, treatments for any substance use disorder and any outpatient OUD treatments, nonfatal overdoses of drugs, nonfatal and fatal overdoses of opioids, and overdose reversal with naloxone.

TAKEAWAY:

• Providers who implemented the intervention had a higher proportion of patients on treatment with medications for OUD than control providers (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.214; 95% CI, 1.100-1.340).
• The intervention was associated with increased treatment rates for any substance use disorder (IRR, 1.120; 95% CI, 1.070-1.172) and any outpatient OUD (IRR, 1.102; 95% CI, 1.034-1.175).
• No significant difference was observed between the two groups in the rate of nonfatal overdoses of drugs or opioids or naloxone overdose reversals.

IN PRACTICE:

“Our study contributes to the existing body of literature on interventions designed to support OUD treatment in primary care settings. Existing evidence highlights significant barriers faced by primary care clinicians in treating OUD, including negative attitudes, stigma, lack of administrative support, lack of supportive resources, and concerns about managing an overwhelming influx of patients,” the study authors concluded.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Anna R. Morgan-Barsamian, Boston Medical Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston. It was published online on October 09, 2025, in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.

LIMITATIONS:

The dataset lacked complete information on mental health diagnoses. The database excluded nearly 20% of the Oregon population, limiting generalizability. The COVID pandemic affected implementation of the intervention.

DISCLOSURES:

This research was supported by CDC. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.