Many hospitals initiate medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), which are associated with reduced opioid use and fewer readmissions. Among people who use opioids, co-occurring methamphetamine use is increasingly prevalent and is associated with worse health and treatment outcomes. This study evaluated the frequency of hospital readmissions and emergency department (ED) encounters over a 6-month period after MOUD was initiated in a hospital setting. This study did not find a significant association between methamphetamine use and risk of hospital readmission or ED encounters up to 6 months after hospital initiation of MOUD. Frequent hospital readmissions and ED encounters after discharge highlight the need for research on drivers of acute care utilization and interventions that better serve patients who initiate MOUD in hospital settings.
Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment 2025 Oct;177:209765. DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2025.209765. EPUB 2025 Jul 30. PMID: 40749842; PMCID: PMC12360629.