Administration of Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine in a Shelter Setting

Dr Ivor Orukpe, Dr Imran Ghauri, Dr J Stryder Zobell

Panel 5 – Healthcare Stream Recovery Oriented Medicine

September 24th Day Two – Macleod Hall C& D South Building 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

Administration of Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine in a Shelter Setting

Dr J Stryder Zobell

Session Description

In 2023, the Northreach Society partnered with the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP) and a local prescribing Pharmacist to treat a highly vulnerable patient population in a shelter setting. Due to the extreme instability of this patient demographic, innovation for Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) initiation became essential to break the cycle of perpetual overdoses and associated fatalities. In a coordinated effort to provide overdose protection, VODP physicians have been prescribing emergency long-acting injectable buprenorphine as a harm reduction, life-saving modality.

Long-acting injectable buprenorphine can be utilized as a harm reduction, life-saving modality for extremely high-risk patients who continue to use illicit opioids. The injectable offers overdose protection and provides a pathway forward for patients to stabilize and work towards long-term recovery. The goal is to save lives, and long-acting injectable buprenorphine shows great promise in goal attainment.

Learning Objectives

  • Review the importance of partnerships in mitigating care gaps to promote health equity for all individuals experiencing opioid use disorder.
  • Understand how long-acting injectable buprenorphine can be utilized as a lifesaving, harm reduction modality.
  • Understand the method of rapid initiation onto long-acting injectable buprenorphine in order to mitigate risks comparable of overdose versus withdrawal.

References:

  • Olofsen E, Algera MH, Moss L, Dobbins RL, Groeneveld GJ, van Velzen M, et al. Modeling buprenorphine reduction of fentanyl-induced respiratory depression. JCI Insight [Internet]. 2022 May 9;7(9). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9090248/pdf/jciinsight-7-156973.pdf
  • A guide to the use of depot buprenorphine [Internet]. Available from: https://www.metaphi.ca/wp-content/uploads/Guide_DepotBuprenorphine.pdf
  • Sublocade treatment: What to know and expect [Internet]. Available from: https://www.metaphi.ca/wp-content/uploads/Handout_SublocadeTreatment.pdf
  • Bruneau J, Ahamad K, Goyer ME, Pouli G, Selby P, Fischer B, Wild T, Wood E, Management of opioid use disorders: a national clinical practice guideline. CMAJ [Internet]. 2018 Mar 5;190(9). Available from: https://www.cmaj.ca/content/190/9/e247

Other Panel Members

Join us for the Alberta Recovery Summit, hosted by the 9th Annual Recovery Capital Conference taking place on September 23rd, 24th, and 25th, 2025.

 Session Streams

  • Health Care and Recovery
  • Indigenous Health
  • Occupational Health and Safety

 Key Details

  • DAY ONE September 23rd – 5:30 pm 6:30: Early Badge Pick Up and Networking Reception, 6:30 pm to 8 pm Pre Conference Presentation
  • DAY TWO September 24th – 8:45 am to 5 pm: Keynote Speakers and Breakout Sessions
  • DAY THREE September 25th – 9 am to 5 pm: Keynote Speakers and Breakout Sessions

 Hotels

Book your hotel at one of our host hotels and save money. Click on the links for the discount rates and book early as rates will go up, and they always sell out.

Schedule

Speakers

Registration

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