Literature review shows medication-assisted treatment improves retention in opioid use disorder, suggesting a focus on residential care may enhance outcomes.
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) remains a public health crisis, with increasing rates of overdose and relapse. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is the gold standard for treating OUD, but outcomes vary based on the medication type, setting, and duration. This literature review synthesizes current research on MAT efficacy in residential treatment programs, focusing on long-term sobriety outcomes. Utilizing a systematic review of 31 empirical studies published between 2018 and 2024, the findings indicate that while all FDA-approved MAT options, methadone, buprenorphine, and extended-release naltrexone, improve treatment retention and reduce opioid use, buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone show greater potential for long-term success when combined with residential care. Limitations and future research needs are discussed.
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Casiano et al. (2025) studied this question.
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