The START Follow-Up Study

No studies to date have examined the longer-term effects of Suboxone versus methadone after treatment termination. This project will assess the longer-term outcomes of the large sample of opioid-dependent patients randomly assigned, in the START Study (CTN-0027), to receive Suboxone or methadone for a (planned) six to eight months of treatment. The study team will conduct personal interviews of START participants, approximately 3 to 5 years post-admission, supplemented by (electronic) medical and other records as available. The results will have important implications for optimizing maintenance treatment for opioid dependence. The specific aims of the project are as follows: (1) To determine longer-term outcomes of Suboxone versus methadone treatment received in the START Study; (2) To investigate patient and treatment factors associated with post-START treatment access, utilization, and outcomes; (3) To explore other correlates of long-term outcomes among START participants.