Psychoeducational Strategies During Outpatient Transition to Extended-Release Naltrexone for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder

The United States is experiencing an opioid epidemic. Better approaches to encourage outpatient utilization of Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder, including extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX), are needed. Withdrawal management before initiation of XR-NTX is challenging for clinicians and patients and represents a major barrier to treatment. To review psychoeducational strategies that support patients during outpatient withdrawal management and transition to XR-NTX. We reviewed the literature on psychoeducational strategies used during opioid withdrawal management and described the role that nurses can play in facilitating transition to XR-NTX in a Phase 3, placebo-controlled, outpatient trial comparing induction regimens. Supportive interventions include general psychoeducation on addiction, overcoming ambivalence, treatment adherence, anticipating XR-NTX induction, managing psychological and physiological aspects of opioid withdrawal, risks of opioid use, and sources of support during recovery. Psychoeducational strategies led by nurses can promote treatment adherence during withdrawal management and induction onto XR-NTX.