Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42155653›Full record

Trial reportJournal of substance use and addiction treatment2026

"It was good because they have a relationship with us": A qualitative study on low-threshold buprenorphine treatment at syringe services programs.

Emma McGill, Benjamin T Hayes, Teresa López-Castro, Juan Gatica Portillo, Stephanie Maricic, Megan Ghiroli, Aaron D Fox

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of substance use and addiction treatment, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Emma McGillAlbert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, United States of America.
Benjamin T HayesAlbert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, United States of America; Montefiore Medical Center, Division of General Internal Medicine, 3300 Kossuth Ave, Bronx, NY, 10467, United States of America.
Teresa López-CastroColin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, The City College of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States of America.
Juan Gatica PortilloAlbert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, United States of America.
Stephanie MaricicAlbert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, United States of America.
Megan GhiroliAlbert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, United States of America; Montefiore Medical Center, Division of General Internal Medicine, 3300 Kossuth Ave, Bronx, NY, 10467, United States of America.
Aaron D FoxAlbert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, United States of America; Montefiore Medical Center, Division of General Internal Medicine, 3300 Kossuth Ave, Bronx, NY, 10467, United States of America. Electronic address: adfox@montefiore.org.

Funding

Impact of PTSD and trauma reexposure on buprenorphine maintenance treatment in syringe exchange programsR01DA044878 · NIDA · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, INC · PI FOX, AARON D · 2017 to 2022
$3.7M
Microdosing initiation of buprenorphine for people seeking treatment for opioid use disorderK23DA055933 · NIDA · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · PI Benjamin T Hayes · 2022 to 2026
$971k
Mentorship in research on opioid use disorder treatment and HIV preventionK24DA057873 · NIDA · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · PI Aaron D Fox · 2023 to 2026
$739k
NIDA NIH HHS K23 DA055933NIDA NIH HHS K24 DA057873NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA044878
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSyringe service programs (SSPs) reach people who inject drugs with opioid use disorder (OUD) and are novel "low-threshold" venues to initiate buprenorphine treatment. The study investigated patients' experiences with SSP-initiated buprenorphine treatment, which could aid in improving buprenorphine treatment delivery at SSPs.

methodsThe study included 12 participants who completed qualitative exit interviews after a randomized controlled trial of buprenorphine treatment at SSPs. In the parent study, participants received buprenorphine treatment through an onsite model at an SSP or enhanced referral to a community health center based on the randomization sequence. Most participants started taking buprenorphine at home. Exit interviews included participants from both study arms, and the semi-structured interview guide focused on their experiences with clinicians, experiences initiating buprenorphine, prior experiences with OUD treatment, and perceptions about continuing buprenorphine treatment. Four researchers iteratively read, coded, and discussed each transcript, then they derived recurring themes using thematic analysis.

resultsParticipants were mostly male, middle-aged, and 50% identified as Latino. Four main themes related to buprenorphine treatment initiation: 1) Onsite treatment facilitated buprenorphine prescription, but some participants also expressed a need for additional support; 2) Precipitated withdrawal complicated participants' buprenorphine initiation in both arms; 3) Participants largely experienced the SSPs as affirming and welcoming; and 4) Developing strong relationships with healthcare providers was critical to successful buprenorphine treatment initiation.

conclusionsThe SSP-based model provided rapid access to buprenorphine prescriptions, but precipitated withdrawal was a common complication. Some participants desired additional support and guidance when they started taking buprenorphine at home. The findings point to a "low-threshold, high-touch" approach where participants receive expedited access to buprenorphine providers at SSPs but also additional support throughout the initiation process to avoid and/or manage precipitated withdrawal. Despite some challenges, SSP-based buprenorphine treatment was highly valued by study participants.

Indexed as

BuprenorphineNeedle-Exchange ProgramsOpiate Substitution TreatmentOpioid-Related DisordersSubstance Abuse, IntravenousAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchBuprenorphineBuprenorphineHarm reductionHealth services accessibilityOpioid-related disordersQualitative research

Identifiers

PMID42155653
PMCPMC13285408

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.