Exploring the Italian Experience with Long-Acting Buprenorphine Formulations (LAIB) for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: A Series of Narrative Interviews

LAIB formulations have emerged as an alternative pharmacological approach for opioid use disorder, offering potential benefits extending beyond clinical stabilisation. Narrative medicine provides a unique approach to understand patients’ perspectives and experiences with sublingual buprenorphine and LAIB, and to examine how they impact the emotional, social, and motivational dimensions of recovery. Fourteen patients across different Italian Addiction Services were interviewed. Narratives were analysed by thematic content across eight domains: dependence on daily treatment regimen, emotional impact, self-perception, determination to change, quality of life, craving and withdrawal symptoms, treatment adherence, social burden, and therapeutic relationship. Statements were categorised by valence; experiential patterns were qualitatively analysed. Sublingual buprenorphine, although effective, was associated with reduced autonomy, symptom control, and difficulties in balancing treatment, work and life. These aspects were correlated with worse adherence. The stigma and burden of daily intake can reduce motivation and hinder identity reconstruction. Transitioning to LAIB resulted in improved self-autonomy, emotional balance, symptom control, self-esteem, and reduced daily and psychological burden, craving and stigma, facilitating social reintegration, and strengthening the therapeutic relationship. The results emphasise how crucial it is to include both experiential and narrative elements in clinical care, as this helps create more tailored, recovery-focused treatment pathways.