For the study, researchers analyzed treatment data and death records for 48,274 adults admitted to outpatient treatment centers for opioid use disorder in Maryland from 2015-16.
A total of 371 opioid overdose deaths occurred during the study period. Researchers found patients treated with anti-opioid drugs such as methadone or buprenorphine were 82 percent less likely to die of an overdose than those receiving non-medication treatments such as psychotherapy.
However, patients were at an equally high risk of overdose after leaving their treatment programs, regardless of which type of therapy they received.
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