Lead: Synthesising evidence of the effects of COVID-19 regulatory changes on methadone treatment for opioid use disorder: implications for policy

Synthesising evidence of the effects of COVID-19 regulatory changes on methadone treatment for opioid use disorder: implications for policy 

The Lancet Public Health

In this review article, methadone take-home dosing considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic were examined. A search of published research on the flexibility of these practices, patient-provider experience, health outcomes, and how these findings might influence updated regulations was performed. The review found no evidence of increased methadone overdose risk as a result of greater pandemic flexibility. Benefits of such policy include potentially improved treatment retention and impressive improvements in patient quality of life. This is key for SAMHSA as it ponders the steps to make these flexibilities permanent.

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