Impact of recent methamphetamine use on treatment outcomes among individuals initiating medications for opioid use disorders in rural treatment settings: a 1-year retrospective cohort study

While patients who had negative methamphetamine UA results when initiating MOUD treatment had higher rates of methamphetamine abstinence over time, methamphetamine UA results at intake did not predict worse treatment outcomes in terms of opioid use and treatment retention for patients receiving MOUD in rural areas. Our findings highlight demographic and profile differences between patients who use methamphetamine in MOUD rural settings, and they identify significant gaps in existing knowledge regarding the effects of methamphetamine use on MOUD treatment response. Such findings underscore a critical need for further research to be conducted, specifically among rural populations seeking MOUD treatment.