This study, entitled Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Linkage at Sexual Health Clinics using Buprenorphine (OUTLAST-B), will examine opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment linkage strategies for people receiving sexual health services from public clinics and health departments. This three-arm, parallel randomized clinical trial (RCT) will compare Usual Care (UC), vs. referral via Patient Navigation (PN), vs. Patient Navigation with buprenorphine initiation (PN+BUP).~The UC Arm will include standard services at the sexual health clinic / city health department.~The PN Arm will include all UC Arm services, with the addition of a Patient Navigator who will assist the participant in selecting a community OUD treatment program, facilitate an intake appointment, help to resolve barriers and coordinate OUD treatment entry, and support early retention in OUD treatment.~The PN+BUP Arm will include all PN Arm services, with the addition of meeting with the sexual health clinic's buprenorphine-waivered provider (typically a nurse practitioner) to initiate buprenorphine treatment, as a bridge until successful transfer to OUD treatment in the community.~Research assessments consisting of a structured interview battery and biomarkers for drug use and sexually transmitted infections will be conducted at baseline, 3-, and 6-month follow-up. Selected outcomes will be examined through 12-months via health record linkage methods. The study will examine participant outcomes in the domains of: (1) OUD treatment entry and retention, (2) Opioid use and related problems (including fatal and non-fatal overdose), and (3) HIV/STD-related outcomes.
This study will examine the effectiveness of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment linkage strategies for patients seen at sexual health clinics. This 3-arm RCT will compare Usual Care vs. Patient Navigation vs. Patient Navigation + Buprenorphine Initiation (UC vs. PN vs. PN+BUP).