{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]],"date-time":"2026-05-14T18:19:51Z","timestamp":1778782791968,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,7]],"date-time":"2026-03-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772841600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Long-Acting Buprenorphine Formulations (LAIB) 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\u2019 perspectives and experiences with sublingual buprenorphine and LAIB dispensed to fourteen patients across different Italian Addiction Services, examining how they impact the emotional, social, and motivational dimensions of recovery. 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. In this setting, 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 the importance of including both experiential and narrative elements in clinical care, as this helps create more tailored, recovery-focused treatment pathways.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph23030336","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]],"date-time":"2026-03-09T11:06:52Z","timestamp":1773054412000},"page":"336","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Exploring the Italian Experience with Long-Acting Buprenorphine Formulations (LAIB) for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: A Series of Narrative Interviews"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"given":"Vincenza","family":"Ariano","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathological Addictions, Local Health Authority (ASL) Taranto, 74121 Taranto, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Anna Francesca","family":"Costanzo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Fatebenefratelli-Sacco (ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco), Addiction Services (Ser.D) Piazzale Accursio 7, 20149 Milano, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gemma","family":"Ferrante","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathological Addictions, Addiction Services (Ser.D) Pozzuoli, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rossella","family":"Garofano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Addiction Services (Ser.D) Avellino, 83100 Avellino, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Vincenzo","family":"Lamartora","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathological Addictions, Addiction Services (Ser.D) Pozzuoli, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sergio","family":"Manfr\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Addiction Service, Ser.T Monza, 20900 Monza, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Deborah","family":"Nordici","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departmental Addictions Area\u2014Asugi, 34128 Trieste, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lorenzo","family":"Somaini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Addiction Treatment Centres, Local Health Authorities of Biella, Novara, Vercelli and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (ASL BI, NO, VC, VCO), 13900 Biella, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2025, December 09). 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