Barriers and Facilitators to Engaging in Addiction Treatment among Black, Latino, and non-Latino White Patients Receiving ED-initiated Buprenorphine Treatment (NIH HEAL Initiative)

Funded by the NIH HEAL Initiative^®

The emergency department (ED) represents an emerging setting to initiate medications for opioid use disorder and provide linkage to ongoing addiction treatment for Black and Latino populations with untreated OUD. Yet Black and Latino individuals with untreated OUD face significant disparities in access to ongoing addiction treatment following an ED visit. The goal of this proposal is to elicit potential targets for ED-based interventions that improve engagement in addiction treatment among Black and Latino individuals with untreated OUD. The specific aims are to: 1) conduct a qualitative study focusing on patterns of barriers and facilitators to engaging in addiction treatment among Black, Latino, and non-Latino White patients receiving ED-initiated buprenorphine treatment with a referral for continuation of OUD treatment outside of the ED and 2) evaluate differences among Black, Latino, and non-Latino White ED patients with untreated OUD on factors previously identified as predictors of worse treatment outcome, including opioid overdose, polysubstance use, major depressive disorder, and stigma, using supplemental analyses of data collected in CTN 0099. To accomplish this, we will conduct both semi-structured individual interviews of Black, Latino, and non-Latino White participants enrolled in CTN 0099 after they have completed their final 30-day assessments and supplemental analyses from data collected in CTN 0099. Study findings will inform the development of an ED-based intervention that enhances engagement in addiction treatment among Black and Latino populations subsequent to ED visit.