Federal and State Regulatory Changes to Methadone Take-Home Doses: Impact of Sociostructural Factors

ABSTRACT

Federal regulations for THDs changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing OTPs to initiate or extend THDs.2 Emerging data suggest increasing access to THDs does not increase adverse events.3-5 In March 2020, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) enacted exemptions allowing increased THDs to mitigate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection risk by decongregating OTP settings. FINANCIAL STRUCTURE IMPACT In a multisite, mixed methods study examining the experiences and outcomes of individuals with opioid use disorder who received increased THDs (study 1), we noted that the financial structuring of one OTP influenced the implementation of regulations during COVID-19. In February 2020, 88 incarcerated men were enrolled in the MMT program. Because of COVID-19, admissions were postponed until October 2020. [...]research is needed to understand the impact of varied state OTP regulations among persons released from prison on MMT.