This study is testing whether offering buprenorphine treatment directly at syringe service programs (SSPs) helps more people start and stay in treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) than referring them to community buprenorphine treatment providers. Buprenorphine is a medication that helps reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
The study compares two ways of connecting people to treatment:
Referral to a community treatment provider (usual care before the new program begins).
Onsite, low-threshold buprenorphine treatment at the SSP, which allows participants to start medication quickly and without having to establish care at another provider.
Participants will be adults who have opioid use disorder and are SSP clients. Each SSP will begin offering the new onsite buprenorphine program at different times during the study. Researchers will collect information before and after the new program begins to see how it affects treatment engagement and health outcomes.
The study will also examine how easy or difficult it is for SSPs to start and run the new program, how acceptable it is to staff and participants, and whether it is cost-effective.
The overall goal is to find better ways to expand access to life-saving opioid treatment in community-based settings.