JAMA August 2026 Methadone vs Buprenorphine-Naloxone in Opioid Overdose Survivors

This Week In Medicine · Aug 26, 2026 · 1m

This study evaluates whether methadone or buprenorphine-naloxone is more effective at preventing mortality among high-risk individuals who have recently survived an opioid overdose. By tracking thousands of patients in Ontario over a several-year period, researchers discovered that those who began a methadone regimen experienced a lower risk of death within the first year compared to those prescribed the alternative. A key factor in this outcome appeared to be treatment retention, as patients stayed on methadone for a longer duration than those on buprenorphine-naloxone. However, the data…