Date of Award

8-28-2020

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Medical Science (MMSc)

First Advisor

David Fiellin, MD

Abstract

Opioid agonist treatment has been shown to reduce mortality, comorbid infections, and opioid cravings in patients with opioid use disorder. However, patient long-term retention on opioid agonist treatment is low and hindered by neurobiological and physiological changes caused by chronic opioid use, such as increased baseline noradrenaline and hyperalgesia. Some of these changes have been shown to be reversible or preventable with aerobic exercise. In this randomized clinical trial, we will determine whether an outpatient, adjunctive, aerobic exercise program designed around personal preferences can improve the retention on opioid agonist treatment. We will randomize 270 study subjects initiated on buprenorphine treatment to the exercise program and measure treatment retention at 1 year. This study will evaluate a patient-centric intervention that may increase quality of life for individuals with opioid use disorder.

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