Connect & Learn Series: Consumer experiences of long-acting injectable buprenorphine and implications for clinical practice

Description

Connect & Learn is a series of case-based webinars funded by the Department of Health, designed to support AOD clinicians throughout regional and metropolitan Victoria. Webinars are presented by experienced clinicians and researchers currently working in the AOD sector and facilitated by Turning Point.

Long-acting injectable buprenorphine (‘depot buprenorphine’) represents an important new treatment option for the management of opioid dependence. Whilst there have been clinical trials exploring the efficacy of depot buprenorphine, less attention has been paid to consumers’ experiences of depot buprenorphine. During this session, we present the findings from a recent Australian study that explored consumers’ experiences of care and how depot buprenorphine affords different practical and social experiences. We also hear from a harm reduction advocacy organisation about how depot buprenorphine has been received by consumers more widely in the community. In view of these insights, we consider implications for clinical practice and how care might be improved in the future.

Objectives:

1. To explore consumers’ experiences of depot buprenorphine

2. To examine how depot buprenorphine affords or constrains opportunities for consumers in different ways

3. To consider how depot buprenorphine care might be improved in the future

Presenter: Tony Barnett is a research fellow at Turning Point. Working in the clinical and social research team, his work explores the social and cultural contexts of alcohol and other drug use, treatment (including novel therapeutic interventions) and policy. His work draws on social science methods to provide in-depth accounts of consumers, carers and clinicians’ experience of addiction treatment, care and recovery.