TY - JOUR
AU - M. Sklar
AU - S. Doyle
AU - M. Kidorf
A1 - 
AB - Background: Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) permit patients to ingest daily methadone doses unsupervised and away from the clinic, a strategy that enhances treatment access and convenience but has the potential for mismanagement.Objective: This retrospective review, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (5/2020-1/2022), evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of a commercially available electronic pillbox to safely administer methadone take-home tablets in a large community-based OTP (census >500 people).Methods: Study participants (n = 24; 54% male, 46% female; M age = 63 years) had recently received more take-homes per visit to support national social distancing directives, and were instructed that they could maintain these privileges by agreeing to use the pillbox.Results: Results demonstrate good demand feasibility as most participants (71%) agreed to use the pillbox. Good implementation feasibility was observed through safe and reliable delivery of most take-home tablets, with a staff support line to resolve technical issues. Acceptability was modest as six participants (25%) requested to return the pillbox despite losing some take-home privileges.Conclusion: Results support continued use and study of the electronic pillbox to safely deliver and increase access to methadone take-home doses.
AD - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.; Man Alive Treatment Program, Baltimore, MD, USA.
AN - 38557232
BT - Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse
C5 - Opioids & Substance Use
DA - Apr 1
DO - 10.1080/00952990.2024.2316598
DP - NLM
ET - 20240401
JF - Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse
LA - eng
N2 - Background: Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) permit patients to ingest daily methadone doses unsupervised and away from the clinic, a strategy that enhances treatment access and convenience but has the potential for mismanagement.Objective: This retrospective review, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (5/2020-1/2022), evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of a commercially available electronic pillbox to safely administer methadone take-home tablets in a large community-based OTP (census >500 people).Methods: Study participants (n = 24; 54% male, 46% female; M age = 63 years) had recently received more take-homes per visit to support national social distancing directives, and were instructed that they could maintain these privileges by agreeing to use the pillbox.Results: Results demonstrate good demand feasibility as most participants (71%) agreed to use the pillbox. Good implementation feasibility was observed through safe and reliable delivery of most take-home tablets, with a staff support line to resolve technical issues. Acceptability was modest as six participants (25%) requested to return the pillbox despite losing some take-home privileges.Conclusion: Results support continued use and study of the electronic pillbox to safely deliver and increase access to methadone take-home doses.
PY - 2024
SN - 0095-2990
SP - 1
EP - 6+
ST - Pilot investigation of an electronic pillbox at a community opioid treatment program
T1 - Pilot investigation of an electronic pillbox at a community opioid treatment program
T2 - Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse
TI - Pilot investigation of an electronic pillbox at a community opioid treatment program
U1 - Opioids & Substance Use
U3 - 10.1080/00952990.2024.2316598
VO - 0095-2990
Y1 - 2024
ER -