ACEs and social risk factors in patients with opioid use disorder

ABSTRACT

Background

Individuals who experience childhood trauma may be more likely to misuse substances. The influence of social risk factors increases the frequency of opioid use. Understanding the linkages between childhood trauma, opioid use disorder, and social risk factors has the potential of improving poor health outcomes. The performance of specific role groups on office-based addition teams in documenting social risk factors in the electronic medical record had not been studied.

Methods

This retrospective chart review was conducted across three primary care practices at an urban academic medical center.

Results

The majority of our sample reported at least one social risk factor. Those patients with an advanced practice nurse and/or navigator on their team were more likely to report food insecurity and to have documentation related to involvement with the legal system. Recovery coaches were most likely to document the lack of housing stability as compared to other members of the team.

Conclusions

The incidence of documentation related to housing stability, food insecurity, and involvement with the legal system for patient’s engaged in an OBAT program should alert interprofessional clinicians on the team to assess for a history of adverse childhood experiences.

KEYWORDS:

• Adverse childhood experiences
• ACEs
• opioid use disorder
• office-based addiction treatment
• social risk factors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.