Long-acting medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) result in lower odds of emergency department (ED) visits, according to a recent study funded by Indivior. The researchers analyzed claims data from September 2017 through March 2022 for people diagnosed with OUD and/or treated with buprenorphine. In total, the analysis included 543 people treated with BUP-XR, a comparison group of 52,569 people treated with daily oral buprenorphine, and a control group of 57,125 people with an opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnosis but no medications. Their health care utilization was followed for six months after being diagnosed with OUD. 

Findings included:

• Any buprenorphine treatment, particularly BUP-XR, was associated with lower odds of all-cause ED visits compared to the outcomes of people with OUD not treated with MOUD. 
• The group percentage of people with an ED visit related to opioid overdose included in the study ranged from zero for those treated with BUP-XR, to 1% among those not treated with MOUD, and 1.2% for those using oral buprenorphine.
• Inpatient costs for those treated with BUP-XR were nearly five times lower than costs for those receiving daily oral buprenorphine and more than 10 times lower compared to those with OUD receiving no MOUD, according to the analysis.
• About 3% of those taking BUP-XR had an inpatient stay during the six months after starting treatment, compared to 5% of those taking daily oral buprenorphine.

The findings were reported in Factors Associated With Emergency Room Visits Among Patients With Opioid Use Disorder: A Study Of Buprenorphine-treated And Untreated Patients. The goal was to determine which factors affected the likelihood of ED visits over six months for those with opioid addiction who were treated with buprenorphine. 

The full text of Factors Associated With Emergency Room Visits Among Patients With Opioid Use Disorder: A Study Of Buprenorphine-Treated And Untreated Patients was published on June 16, 2025, by ScienceDirect. A free copy is available (accessed July 31, 2025). 

For more information, contact: Cassie France-Kelly, Communications, Indivior Inc., 10710 Midlothian Turnpike, Suite 125, North Chesterfield, Virginia 23235-4776; Email: cassie.france-kelly@Indivior.com; Website: https://www.indivior.com/