Evaluation of Buvidal

The Welsh Government (WG) wishes to commission an evaluation of the rapid implementation of Injectable Buprenorphine (Buvidal) which forms part of the range of interventions within opioid substitution treatment (OST) services. Buvidal is a new form of OST which replaces the need for daily supervised consumption with weekly or monthly injections.

The Welsh Government (WG) wishes to commission an evaluation of the rapid implementation of Injectable Buprenorphine (Buvidal) which forms part of the range of interventions within opioid substitution treatment (OST) services. Buvidal is a new form of OST which replaces the need for daily supervised consumption with weekly or monthly injections.

The evaluation will have both backward - and forward - looking components and will serve three aims:

Stage one: To assess how the programme has been set up and how it is being operated (backward looking). Stage one will also be used to assess the feasibility of adopting a randomised controlled trial methodology for stage three and/or suggest other models if appropriate.

Stage two: To elucidate the theory of change for Buvidal and develop the logic model underpinning the treatment, considering the differences between Buvidal and other OST and what the ‘new’ service should look like.

Stage three: To provide an indication of its overall effectiveness and an economic evaluation (including any differences between outcomes for those on Buvidal and other OST medications).