Long-acting Buprenorphine and Non-Fatal Overdose
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Long-acting Buprenorphine and influence on Non-Fatal Overdose in Tayside. A Retrospective Case Control Study
IRAS ID
343222
Contact name
Vera Feruza Nuritova
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Dundee
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 0 days
Research summary
Scotland has the highest numbers of drug-related deaths in Europe, with Dundee City among the areas most affected by fatal overdoses. Non-fatal overdoses (NFOs) are also of significant concern as they place the individual at substantial risk of physical and psychological harm. Evidence illustrates that NFOs are a predictor of a fatal event. Each NFO presents a crucial opportunity for intervention to reduce future risk and promote changes in behaviours. Addressing NFOs is, therefore, a priority in efforts to reduce drug deaths.
One key intervention after an NFO is reviewing prescribed Opiate Agonist Therapy (OAT). OAT is an effective treatment to support those with an opioid dependency, enabling them to access other health and psychosocial interventions. Evidence suggests that OAT reduces all-cause mortality among opioid-dependent individuals, offering protective benefits.
Long-acting Buprenorphine (LaB), a new formulation of OAT introduced in 2020, involves weekly or monthly subcutaneous injections. For the patient group experiencing NFO, who may be considered complex and chaotic, LaB provides an option to optimise dose quickly, providing OAT in a manner that prevents diversion and enables an individual to engage without restrictive dispensing schedules to adhere to, which may be a barrier to care. LaB may also support patients to engage with health and social care services to address care needs wider than OST prescribing.
LaB may also however, disadvantage this patient group since it reduces the need for daily visits to a community pharmacy where concerns for their health and wellbeing could be identified and communicated in a timely manner. LaB may therefore impact on risk of further NFOs that differs from other OAT formulations such as methadone. This study aims to assess how changes in OAT prescribing, particularly with LaB, affect NFO rates to better understand its impact on overdose risk in this vulnerable population.REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
25/NI/0025
Date of REC Opinion
4 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion