Lead: Access to medications for opioid use disorder among veterans with homeless experience in permanent supportive housingLead: Access to medications for opioid use disorder among veterans with homeless experience in permanent supportive housing
This Week in Addiction Medicine from ASAM
The episode presents a research-focused news round-up on addiction medicine, led by a study of MOUD access among veterans in supportive housing. It also summarises recent findings on alcohol and opioid treatment, ketamine safety, cannabis and alcohol co-use, PrEP implementation, police contact and overdose, and GLP-1 drugs and eating disorders.
7:19•12 May 2026
Research Highlights in Addiction Medicine: Veterans, MOUD Access and New Treatment Risks
Episode Overview
- Among 10,110 US veterans with opioid use disorder in permanent supportive housing, only 17% received medications for opioid use disorder within 12 months.
- Greater behavioural health engagement was associated with increased receipt of MOUD, while older age, race minority status, and prior inpatient hospitalisation were associated with lower odds.
- Early drug exposure in childhood, drug availability, normalisation of use, and coping motives were common themes in transitions to illicit opioid and injection drug use in rural settings.
- Within the Veterans Health Administration, 30% of hospitalisations for alcohol use disorder resulted in initiation of medications for alcohol use disorder as an inpatient or within seven days of discharge, with wide variation across hospitals.
- Low-dose ketamine for psychiatric disorders can cause mild liver enzyme elevations, but significant liver injury was rare in reviewed studies, and monitoring during therapy is recommended.
“Only 17% received MOUD within 12 months.”
The lead story looks at “Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Among Veterans With Homeless Experience in Permanent Supportive Housing.” Drawing on data from 10,110 US veterans with opioid use disorder living in permanent supportive housing, the study found that “only 17% received MOUD within 12 months.” Greater engagement with behavioural health care was linked with receiving medications for opioid use disorder, while older age, being from a racial minority group, and prior inpatient hospitalisation were linked with lower odds.
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This news-style episode from the American Society of Addiction Medicine zeroes in on fresh research that matters to anyone interested in evidence-based care and policy around substance use. The episode notes that improving access could mean embedding addiction care into supportive housing teams, using existing behavioural health contact points, and directly addressing disparities.
From there, the host, Zach Caruso, runs through a series of recent papers: early drug exposure and transitions to injection use in rural areas, hospital initiation of medications for alcohol use disorder among veterans, ketamine’s potential effects on the liver at psychiatric doses, and how cannabis edibles combined with alcohol affect driving performance.
You’ll also hear about research on police contact and non-fatal overdose in rural Appalachia, the costs of implementing HIV PrEP among sexual and gender minority individuals with substance use disorders, and concerns about GLP-1 receptor agonists possibly worsening restrictive eating disorders. It’s a compact round-up pitched to clinicians, researchers, and anyone who wants clear, research-focused updates on addiction medicine without fluff.
If you’re curious how current science might shape treatment for opioids, alcohol, or co-occurring issues, this episode lays out the latest findings in plain language and leaves you with plenty to think about. Which of these studies feels most relevant to your own work or recovery interests?
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