Best Practices for Hospital-Based Initiation of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: A Consensus Statement - Takeaways - MDSpire

Best Practices for Hospital-Based Initiation of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: A Consensus Statement

  • By

  • Shawn M. Cohen

  • Elana Straus

  • David A. Fiellin

  • Jamie L. Pomeranz

  • Joji Suzuki

  • Jeanette M. Tetrault

  • Melissa B. Weimer

  • E. Jennifer Edelman

  • Paul J. Joudrey

  • May 7, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Initiating medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in hospitals is crucial for reducing overdose deaths, especially with high-potency synthetic opioids.

  • 2

    Hospitalization provides an ideal setting for MOUD initiation due to the ability to monitor withdrawal symptoms and medication safety closely.

  • 3

    Rapid and higher-dose methadone initiation protocols are increasingly used due to the higher tolerance and severe withdrawal associated with high-potency synthetic opioids.

  • 4

    A Delphi study was conducted to evaluate expert consensus on best practices for hospital initiation of MOUD in patients using high-potency synthetic opioids.

  • 5

    Consensus was defined using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method, assessing the appropriateness of various MOUD initiation practices among experts.

Original Source(s)

Best Practices for Hospital-Based Initiation of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: A Consensus Statement

  • by Shawn M. Cohen, Elana Straus, David A. Fiellin, Jamie L. Pomeranz, Joji Suzuki, Jeanette M. Tetrault, Melissa B. Weimer, E. Jennifer Edelman, Paul J. Joudrey

  • May 7, 2026

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