Project Overview:

The METHOD study evaluates the real-world impact of expanded methadone dosing and intake hours at Denver Recovery Group (DRG), which increased operating hours from 6AM–2PM to 5AM–Midnight and launched 24-hour intakes to improve accessibility for people with opioid use disorder. Using a retrospective cohort design, the study links DRG electronic health records and state vital records to assess methadone uptake, dosing patterns, treatment retention, acute care utilization, and mortality before and after these operational changes. To complement these quantitative analyses, the project includes a qualitative component involving semi-structured interviews with patients, clinicians, and administrators to understand how expanded hours influence access, workflow, engagement, and organizational adaptation. Together, these mixed-methods data will provide timely, actionable evidence on whether flexible methadone treatment models improve care engagement and outcomes, offering guidance for treatment programs and policymakers seeking to modernize methadone delivery and reduce overdose risk in the fentanyl era.