Abstract
BACKGROUND: Drug treatment courts (DTCs) are designed to reduce relapse and recidivism among individuals with substance use issues, including opioid use disorder (OUD). Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are part of the gold standard for OUD treatment. Most drug courts, including adult courts, authorize the use of MOUD for program participants. However, the overall percentage of individuals receiving MOUD remains low. OBJECTIVES: Explore if Wisconsin DTCs collaborate with community pharmacists to administer injectable naltrexone, as well as perceptions, barriers, and advantages of these collaborations. METHODS: A 21-item survey was administered to Wisconsin Treatment Court coordinators to understand the use of injectable naltrexone for OUD among program participants. Respondents were invited to participate in an unstructured focus group following survey completion. Subsequently, community pharmacists were recruited for an interview panel. The focus group and interview panel purpose was to understand perspectives related to a bi-directional collaboration to provide injectable naltrexone for program participants. Descriptive statistics and an inductive thematic analysis summarized study findings. RESULTS: Overall, 20 respondents completed the survey. Three of the 4 DTCs providing MOUD report administering injectable naltrexone to participants and awareness that pharmacists can administer injectable naltrexone. However, only one had directly worked with a pharmacist. Two treatment court coordinators participated in the focus group, and 4 community pharmacists participated in the interview panel. Emergent themes included lack of awareness and concerns regarding community pharmacy services and potential advantages of and barriers to community pharmacist-administered injectable naltrexone. CONCLUSION: Community pharmacist-administered injectable naltrexone is not widely used within Wisconsin DTCs. However, treatment court coordinators and community pharmacists acknowledged the potential benefits of community pharmacy involvement to administer injectable naltrexone. Future research should expand on these findings and explore ways to increase knowledge and awareness of injectable naltrexone and community pharmacist-provided services and address barriers.