ORN Summer 2025 - Changes in recovery capital among patients receiving buprenorphine treatment for OUD in a Telehealth Setting-2025-08-27 - Handout - Changes in recovery capital among patients receiving buprenorphine treatment for OUD in a telehealth setting

2025-08-27 - Handout - Changes in recovery capital among patients receiving buprenorphine treatment for OUD in a telehealth setting - Williams, MD

Back to course

Pdf Summary

This study, presented through the Opioid Response Network by Dr. Arthur Robin Williams, examines changes in "recovery capital" among patients undergoing buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) via telehealth. Recovery capital encompasses the personal, social, physical, and cultural resources that support individuals in initiating and sustaining recovery from substance use disorders.<br /><br />The research focuses on patients in Pennsylvania treated at Ophelia Health, a telehealth platform providing buprenorphine and comprehensive care including treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions. Using the Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital (BARC-10), a validated 10-item scale measuring various domains affecting recovery, the study assessed patients’ recovery capital at baseline and tracked changes from 30 to 120 days after treatment initiation among those retained for 90 days.<br /><br />Findings reveal that most patients either increased or maintained high levels of recovery capital, with the most substantial improvements within the first two months of care. Higher baseline recovery capital scores correlated with better retention in treatment, even after adjusting for demographic and clinical variables. Retention was defined by continuous buprenorphine treatment without a 30-day gap.<br /><br />The study underscores the importance of systematically monitoring recovery capital as part of measurement-based care to identify patients needing additional support. It suggests incorporating recovery capital assessments into clinical sessions to discuss patient progress and address social determinants of health (SDOH) such as food insecurity, transportation, and neighborhood safety, which can impact recovery. <br /><br />Overall, this research highlights that monitoring and enhancing recovery capital may improve treatment retention and outcomes in telehealth-delivered OUD care. Further studies are needed to understand variations among patients and long-term effects on recovery trajectories.<br /><br />The work aligns with SAMHSA’s mission and is supported by the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, offering continuing education to healthcare professionals engaged in evidence-based OUD treatment.

Keywords

opioid use disorder

buprenorphine treatment

telehealth

recovery capital

Ophelia Health

Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital (BARC-10)

treatment retention

measurement-based care

social determinants of health

substance use disorder recovery