Mailing buprenorphine after hospital discharge
Official title: A Pragmatic Remote Approach to Improve Transitions of Care and Retention in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Run by Medical University of South Carolina · NCT07421102 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 Phase 1 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Medical University of South Carolina Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Charleston, South Carolina and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 8, 2026 |
| Main results expected | January 2027 |
| Study ends | March 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 30, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07421102 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States Recruiting -
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Allison Smith, MD — Medical University of South Carolina
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.