JAMA Network JAMA Psychiatry : Collaborative Care for Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care
Aug 20, 2025
Anna D. Ratzliff and Andrew J. Saxon, both experts from the University of Washington School of Medicine, discuss innovative collaborative care models for treating opioid use disorder. They address the alarming rise in opioid-related fatalities and the need for better healthcare access. The duo highlights their study, showcasing how structured collaborative care improves treatment outcomes and mental health quality of life. They also delve into the creation of a specialized registry aimed at optimizing care integration within existing primary care systems.
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Treatment Cuts Mortality But Access Lags
- Opioid use disorder greatly increases mortality but medications reduce that risk substantially.
- Systemic barriers like fragmented care and stigma limit access despite effective treatments.
Core Structure Of Collaborative Care
- Collaborative care uses a three-person team to deliver systematic, measurement-based mental healthcare in primary care.
- The model pairs a primary provider, a behavioral health care manager, and a psychiatric consultant for coordinated treatment.
Train Teams And Use A Registry
- Add training and registry tools so teams can prescribe and support medications for opioid use disorder.
- Use brief behavioral interventions like adapted behavioral activation to support adherence.