Study Links Early Methadone Take-Home Doses to Improved Opioid Use Disorder Outcomes

New research published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that initiating methadone take-home doses within 5 to 24 weeks after starting treatment for opioid use disorder can significantly improve patient outcomes. The study, based on observational data from British Columbia, found that this approach was associated with reduced all-cause mortality and lower rates of treatment discontinuation. These findings indicate that providing take-home doses generally offers greater benefits than not doing so.