Primary Care Patient and Clinician Perspectives on Safer Use Strategies for Opioids and/or Stimulants: A Mixed-Method Study

• DOI: 10.1007/s11606-025-09418-5
• Publication Date: 2025-03-04T18:33:40Z
• Authors: Brittany E. Blanc...; Elizabeth J. Austin; Erin Chase; Julien Rouvere; Vinita Sharma; Morgan Johnson; Nichole Sams; Florence Williams; Madeline C. Frost; Sarah Leyde; Judith I. Tsui; Susan E. Collins; John C. Fortney
• Keywords: SAFER

Safer use strategies (SUS) are behaviors before, during, and after drug to moderate and/or mitigate unwanted consequences. As treatment of substance disorders becomes more common in primary care, offering SUS care merits exploration. We explored acceptability using a convergent parallel mixed-method design consisting patient clinician semi-structured interviews surveys. Participants were recruited from clinics involved multi-state practice research network. Patients with lifetime stimulant opioid any eligible. All clinicians Qualitative data analyzed rapid assessment procedure. Quantitative descriptively. included patients (n = 10) 12) multiple disciplines. More than half indicated that every surveyed should be offered care. reported stay safer, reduce consequences, limit use. Clinicians is acceptable supported by sharing informational resources (e.g., safer injection practices) tangible naloxone, medication for disorder [MOUD]). Some recommended not currently being systematically fentanyl test strips). Several expressed willingness discuss but wanted training facilitate discussions support goals. Offering clinicians. some use, though harm reduction desired. Providing who stimulants opioids could enhance patient-centered especially MOUD. needed optimize settings.