Mailing buprenorphine after hospital discharge
A Pragmatic Remote Approach to Improve Transitions of Care and Retention in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
EARLY_PHASE1 · Medical University of South Carolina · NCT07421102
This pilot will test whether mailing buprenorphine to adults with opioid use disorder after medical hospitalization helps them stay in treatment.
Quick facts
| Phase | EARLY_PHASE1 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Medical University of South Carolina (other) |
| Locations | 2 sites (Charleston, South Carolina and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07421102 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This single-center, hybrid type 3 pilot will enroll 20 medically hospitalized adults with opioid use disorder who are started on buprenorphine and discharged with an initial supply. Participants will be enrolled in the MOUD Direct Delivery program, which mails monthly buprenorphine refills directly to their homes. The study will measure feasibility (successful delivery), acceptability (patient-reported measures), and preliminary effectiveness using treatment retention at 1, 3, and 6 months, with secondary outcomes including quality of life, adherence, overdose, and healthcare utilization. Results are intended to inform scalable transitions-of-care strategies that overcome transportation and pharmacy access barriers.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (≥18) with opioid use disorder who are English-speaking, initiated on buprenorphine during a medical hospitalization, have access to a phone or computer, and will be discharged to a stable mailbox in South Carolina.
Not a fit: People with active psychosis or suicidal ideation, severe medical or neurocognitive impairment, pending incarceration, unstable housing or no secure mailbox, or those living outside South Carolina are unlikely to benefit from this mailing-based intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, mailing buprenorphine could reduce transportation and pharmacy barriers, improving retention in treatment and potentially lowering overdose and rehospitalization rates.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work on telehealth and mobile delivery of medications for opioid use disorder suggests improved access and small programs that mailed buprenorphine have shown feasibility, but rigorous controlled data are limited and the approach remains relatively untested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 * English-speaking * Diagnosed with OUD and initiated on buprenorphine during hospitalization * Discharging to a South Carolina address with a stable mailbox * Access to phone or computer Exclusion Criteria: * Active psychosis or suicidal ideation * Severe medical or neurocognitive impairment * Pending incarceration
Where this trial is running
Charleston, South Carolina and 1 other locations
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, South Carolina, United States (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, South Carolina, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Allison Smith, MD — Medical University of South Carolina
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Opioid Use Disorder, mailing buprenorphine, transitions of care, opioid use disorder, barriers to buprenorphine