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Methadone Program Directors' Perceptions of Barriers and Supports to Engage People with Opioid Use Disorders in Methadone Services.

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Title: Methadone Program Directors' Perceptions of Barriers and Supports to Engage People with Opioid Use Disorders in Methadone Services.
Authors: Kelly, Erin L. (AUTHOR), Camacho-Esteves, Tracy (AUTHOR), Denish, Melissa (AUTHOR), Lawson, Sarah (AUTHOR), Reed, Megan K. (AUTHOR), Weinstein Carson, Lara (AUTHOR), Sterling, Robert (AUTHOR)
Source: Substance Use & Misuse. 2026, Vol. 61 Issue 2, p322-326. 5p.
Subjects: Methadone treatment programs, Substance abuse, Health services accessibility, Patient compliance, Executives, Research funding, Social determinants of health, Methadone hydrochloride, Substance abuse treatment, Medical care, Social factors, Interviewing, Termination of treatment, Descriptive statistics, Continuum of care, Race, Narcotics, Research methodology, Treatment programs, Quality assurance, Therapeutic alliance, Patient participation
Geographic Terms: Pennsylvania
Abstract: Background: Methadone programs to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) are highly regulated, but many of their restrictions were relaxed during COVID-19, such as expanded medication take-home privileges and telehealth access. Many of these reforms have been sustained post-COVID-19, but substantial risks for overdose persist nationally. Identifying non-pandemic factors that improve service access and utilization is crucial to prevent additional mortality. Objectives: The goal of this study was to identify key stakeholder recommendations for improving methadone services and reducing treatment barriers. Results: In this study, 9 of the 10 program directors of methadone service programs in Philadelphia were surveyed in April-June 2023. The expansion of take-home privileges was perceived as beneficial for treatment access; however, additional changes to service delivery were deemed necessary to further improve outcomes. Specifically, program directors consistently identified staffing challenges (e.g., recruitment, retention, quality) as critical barriers to patient access and retention within their programs, suggesting an urgent need to invest in the substance use workforce. Program directors noted the importance of addressing other social determinants of health to improve service use, such as assistance with basic needs (e.g., housing, transportation, and benefits) and social factors (e.g., stigma). Directors perceived reduced patient demand as adversely affecting service use. Some attributed this to changes in the drug supply (e.g., fentanyl, xylazine) as well as a shift in patient preferences towards other forms of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Conclusions: Program directors of methadone outpatient treatment programs identified important policies, workforce factors, and resources required to improve substance use services to address the rapidly evolving drug crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Substance Use & Misuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Methadone Program Directors' Perceptions of Barriers and Supports to Engage People with Opioid Use Disorders in Methadone Services.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kelly%2C+Erin+L%2E%22">Kelly, Erin L.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Camacho-Esteves%2C+Tracy%22">Camacho-Esteves, Tracy</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Denish%2C+Melissa%22">Denish, Melissa</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lawson%2C+Sarah%22">Lawson, Sarah</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reed%2C+Megan+K%2E%22">Reed, Megan K.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Weinstein+Carson%2C+Lara%22">Weinstein Carson, Lara</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sterling%2C+Robert%22">Sterling, Robert</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Substance+Use+%26+Misuse%22">Substance Use & Misuse</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 61 Issue 2, p322-326. 5p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pennsylvania%22">Pennsylvania</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Background: Methadone programs to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) are highly regulated, but many of their restrictions were relaxed during COVID-19, such as expanded medication take-home privileges and telehealth access. Many of these reforms have been sustained post-COVID-19, but substantial risks for overdose persist nationally. Identifying non-pandemic factors that improve service access and utilization is crucial to prevent additional mortality. Objectives: The goal of this study was to identify key stakeholder recommendations for improving methadone services and reducing treatment barriers. Results: In this study, 9 of the 10 program directors of methadone service programs in Philadelphia were surveyed in April-June 2023. The expansion of take-home privileges was perceived as beneficial for treatment access; however, additional changes to service delivery were deemed necessary to further improve outcomes. Specifically, program directors consistently identified staffing challenges (e.g., recruitment, retention, quality) as critical barriers to patient access and retention within their programs, suggesting an urgent need to invest in the substance use workforce. Program directors noted the importance of addressing other social determinants of health to improve service use, such as assistance with basic needs (e.g., housing, transportation, and benefits) and social factors (e.g., stigma). Directors perceived reduced patient demand as adversely affecting service use. Some attributed this to changes in the drug supply (e.g., fentanyl, xylazine) as well as a shift in patient preferences towards other forms of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Conclusions: Program directors of methadone outpatient treatment programs identified important policies, workforce factors, and resources required to improve substance use services to address the rapidly evolving drug crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Substance Use & Misuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/10826084.2025.2551709
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 5
        StartPage: 322
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Methadone treatment programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Substance abuse
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Health services accessibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patient compliance
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      – SubjectFull: Executives
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
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      – SubjectFull: Social determinants of health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Methadone hydrochloride
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Substance abuse treatment
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      – SubjectFull: Medical care
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      – SubjectFull: Social factors
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      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Termination of treatment
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      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
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      – SubjectFull: Race
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      – SubjectFull: Narcotics
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      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
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      – SubjectFull: Treatment programs
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      – SubjectFull: Pennsylvania
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      – TitleFull: Methadone Program Directors' Perceptions of Barriers and Supports to Engage People with Opioid Use Disorders in Methadone Services.
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              Text: 2026
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