Case Series of Patients with Opioid Use Disorder and Suicidal Ideation Treated with Buprenorphine

Abstract

Introduction: Buprenorphine benefits patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) in the emergency department (ED), but its efficacy for OUD patients with suicidal ideation (SI) in the ED is unknown. Case Series: We present a case series of 14 OUD patients with SI who were given buprenorphine and a referral to outpatient substance use treatment in the ED. All experienced SI resolution, engaged with outpatient services, and remained in outpatient substance use treatment 30 days after ED discharge. Conclusion: Our data provide evidence for the feasibility of starting buprenorphine in OUD patients with SI in the ED, and suggest that buprenorphine may be useful in helping to resolve SI for these patients. Future research with larger samples is needed.