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MATClinics Publishes Landmark Study on Opioid Treatment Retention
By Dan Reck, CEO, MATClinics News
June 2025
A New Standard in Addiction Care
For many people living with opioid addiction, treatment can feel like a revolving door. Start, stop, relapse, repeat. MATClinics is working to change that pattern.
We don’t just follow best practices; we define and refine them. Our clinicians ask the questions that emerge in real-world care, and we turn those questions into actionable data.
That work is reflected in our latest peer-reviewed study, "A Comparative Study of Treatment Retention in Opioid Use Disorder: Subcutaneous Injectable Versus Sublingual Buprenorphine," published in Addiction by Charles Deng, Enrique Oviedo, Marc Fishman, and Albert Burgess-Hull. Read the full study here.
This is one of the first large-scale analyses comparing injectable (e.g. Sublocade) and sublingual (e.g. Suboxone) buprenorphine formats. The findings offer important insight into how formulation type and timing may affect retention, especially in the early stages of treatment.
“Our study opens up new ways to consider which patients might benefit more from injectable versus oral buprenorphine. By understanding these differences, we can better individualize care for our patients and boost their chances of staying in treatment.”
— Dr. Enrique Oviedo, Chief Medical Officer
This is MATClinics’ second peer-reviewed publication in just two years, and builds on our previously published treatment adherence research. More than a credential, it reflects our ongoing commitment to improving the future of medication-assisted treatment with one goal in mind: better outcomes for patients.
What the Study Explored + What We Learned
This observational study followed more than 1,000 patients at MATClinics eight outpatient locations in Maryland. It compared treatment retention between two groups:
- Those who remained on daily sublingual buprenorphine (tablet or film, typically Suboxone)
- Those who transitioned to extended-release injectable buprenorphine (Sublocade)
The research team used rigorous matching methods to ensure fairness. Each patient who switched to injections was compared with a similar patient who stayed on Suboxone or other sublingual medication. The result was a highly specific look at how treatment format affects engagement in care.
Key Findings:
- Patients who transitioned from sublingual to injectable buprenorphine had a shorter median retention: 269 days versus 389 days for those on sublingual buprenorphine.
- This reflected a 36% higher risk of dropout for the injectable group.
- Timing made a critical difference. When injections were started within the first five visits, retention dropped significantly. For patients who switched later in treatment, there was no meaningful difference in retention compared to sublingual care.
"This study suggests that the timing of the transition to injectable buprenorphine is important. We should reevaluate when this switch is most beneficial for specific patient populations."
— Dr. Enrique Oviedo, Chief Medical Officer
Why MAT Retention Matters
According to a comprehensive CDC-supported study, more than 50% of patients who begin buprenorphine discontinue treatment within their first year. This is well below the 12-month duration that public health experts agree is essential for reducing overdose risk and supporting sustained recovery.
Additionally, a Massachusetts cohort study funded by the NIH found that individuals who received buprenorphine at any time during the 12 months following a nonfatal opioid overdose experienced 38% fewer opioid-related deaths compared to those who did not receive treatment.
In other words, staying in care saves lives. Every extra month of medication-assisted treatment matters–that’s why these results are so important. They offer insight into which care pathways help patients stay engaged in MAT, and which may need to be approached with a more critical eye.
Integrating Research Into Our Mission
This research isn’t an academic detour. It’s part of how MATClinics operates. By building a feedback loop between clinical care and research, we’re able to test ideas, measure impact, and adapt quickly. This allows us to improve faster and with more precision—we can apply our own findings in real-time.
How to Improve Buprenorphine Treatment Retention in Clinical Practice
The study’s insights are already being applied across our network.
Dosing Decisions:
We're refining our approach to injectable buprenorphine, using patient-specific factors to guide when and how it's introduced. We work individually with patients on a timeline for transitioning from sublingual to injectable buprenorphine, considering individual patient stability and engagement.
Targeted Support:
Patients who switch early to injections receive additional clinical attention and conversation around risks, preferences, and alternatives. This targeted support includes regular telehealth check-ins in between injection appointments to keep patients engaged in treatment.
Why It Matters to You
For patients and families:
You deserve treatment that’s grounded in evidence and tailored to your needs. This research helps ensure that your care plan isn’t based on guesswork or stagnant methodologies, but on real-world experience. It empowers you to make informed decisions about your recovery journey.
For providers and partners:
This study offers insight into how the dosing, timing, and format of buprenorphine could affect retention and reduce risk in your practice.
For the field at large:
Transparent publication of novel findings sets a high standard. It invites scrutiny and builds trust. That’s how healthcare evolves—and how more patients get better care.
What’s Next
This study is part of a broader agenda designed to elevate the standard of addiction care. Here’s what’s ahead:
- MATClinics is participating in a research study in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, assessing the retention rates of patients struggling with both chronic pain and opioid use disorder. The study deploys varied treatment protocols such as buprenorphine dosing based on pain levels, comprehensive counseling, and a combination of treatment strategies.
- MATClinics is expanding its partnerships with inpatient treatment programs and sober living houses to offer both oral and injectable buprenorphine. These partnerships enable us to expand care and reach more individuals who need it, providing comprehensive support in various stages of recovery.
- MATClinics is also introducing a groundbreaking mobile treatment unit, made possible through grant funding from Baltimore County. Scheduled to hit the road this summer, this trailblazing initiative will bring essential treatment services directly to underserved communities. By removing barriers to care, the mobile unit ensures that more individuals have convenient access to the life-saving treatment they need and deserve.
Final Word
MATClinics believes research and recovery should never exist in separate silos. When the people delivering care are also asking hard questions and measuring outcomes, everyone benefits.
Patients: Ready for care informed by the latest research? Contact our friendly team today.
Providers & Partners: Interested in collaboration or data-sharing? Connect with us at info@matclinics.com
Media & Researchers: For interview requests or study materials, reach out to info@matclinics.com for information
Study Citation & Access
“A Comparative Study of Treatment Retention in Opioid Use Disorder: Subcutaneous Injectable Versus Sublingual Buprenorphine” Charles Deng, Enrique Oviedo, Marc Fishman, and Albert Burgess-Hull