Deaconess launches new approach to treating opioid withdrawal

For people experiencing opioid addiction, the first step toward recovery often begins in a moment of crisis. This may follow an overdose or arise during acute withdrawal.

What comes next can determine whether someone remains safe enough to consider treatment. A new pilot program at MultiCare Deaconess Hospital is helping create that critical window of stability.

Launched in February 2025, the initiative introduces a long‑acting form of buprenorphine, a medication that reduces opioid cravings and prevents withdrawal. Delivered as a single injection, it offers up to five days of symptom relief, giving patients time to stabilize and connect with community-based treatment providers.

“Since offering long-acting injectable buprenorphine in the Deaconess emergency department, we are seeing patients stabilize sooner, engage in treatment more consistently and cycle through crisis care in the emergency department less often,” shares Sara Welty, DNP-APH, RN, nurse care manager at Deaconess. “By offering a long-acting option that reduces cravings and removes the burden of daily dosing, we’re not just treating withdrawal in a moment of crisis or desperation — we’re creating a bridge to sustained recovery and a healthier community.”

Barriers to medication-assisted treatment after hospital discharge

For years, hospitals such as Deaconess have used buprenorphine in tablet form. Patients typically take the pill under their tongue daily after being stabilized in the emergency department.

But not everyone is able to keep up with daily dosing.

Many patients face obstacles such as unstable housing, limited transportation or simply the difficulty of maintaining any daily routine while navigating addiction. When someone leaves the hospital without taking their medication, or without the ability to fill a prescription, their risk of returning to drug use increases.

Research and local trends show how high those stakes are. Spokane County has recorded roughly 700 overdose deaths over the past two years, the majority accidental.

Against this backdrop, providers see long-acting injectables as a critical shift in care.

“There’s a clear need for more consistent, low-barrier MOUD (medications for opioid use disorder) in Spokane because too many people fall through the gaps between crisis and care,” shares Welty. “When treatment is hard to access, requires strict scheduling or isn’t available at the moment someone is ready, we miss critical opportunities to save lives. Expanding low-barrier options ensures people can stay on medication when they need it most, making recovery more attainable.”

Patient response to long-acting buprenorphine

Since the program began, Deaconess has administered the long-acting medication 19 times (as of April 2026), including to patients who arrived in overdose. Care teams have had conversations with dozens more individuals about the option, though not everyone is ready to take this step on their first visit.

Some patients are hesitant about injections; others feel uncertain about committing to several days of withdrawal prevention. Even so, those conversations carry lasting value.

“Conversations about long-acting injectables (LAIs) and harm reduction matter even when someone isn’t ready to start medication, because readiness isn’t static; it builds through trust, information and repeated connection,” says Welty. “By meeting people where they are, offering practical ways to stay safer, and planting the seed that effective options like LAIs exist, we keep the door open so that when people are ready, support isn’t a barrier.”

For patients who receive the injection, the five-day window is just the beginning.

Before the medication wears off, they’re connected with partner clinics across the community for continued treatment. These organizations can provide ongoing care, including monthly versions of the same injectable medication.

What’s next for the opioid treatment pilot

The team at Deaconess aims to administer the medication at least five times each month, and will reassess the program after its first year. Even though it’s new, the pilot is already having ripple effects, helping more patients feel safe seeking help and giving providers a new tool to prevent fatal overdoses.

Looking ahead, there is a vision to broaden the reach of the program.

“Expanding access to LAIs across women’s services and inpatient acute care at Deaconess is a critical next step toward more equitable, patient-centered treatment. These settings offer key moments to engage patients who might otherwise be missed, ensuring continuity of care during vulnerable times,” says Welty. “By working toward LAI expansion across the MultiCare hospital network, we can reduce disparities, improve stabilization and create a more consistent pathway to recovery for every patient we serve.”