OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal effect of buprenorphine-medication assisted treatment (B-MAT), combined with a patient support program, on medication adherence in a sample of opioid dependent patients.  Its effect on drug abuse will also be explored.  METHODS: OD patients new to B-MAT (N=410) were randomized to receive B-MAT plus a patient support program (experimental group, n = 249) or B-MAT alone (standard care, n = 161).  All patients completed the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) at baseline, 1, 2, 3, and 6 months post-enrollment.  The ASI is a semi-structured interview designed to measure problem severity in 7 functional areas known to be affected by alcohol and drug dependence. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to detect group, time and interaction effects for compliance with B-MAT. RESULTS: One year follow-up data will be presented in the poster; however, only 6 month data were available at the time of submission.  The intervention group reported taking their medication on more days than controls F(1408) = 4.48; p <0.05).  A significant time effect was also observed F(3, 1224) = 36.9, p <0.001), with subjects as a whole taking their medication on less days as the study progressed.  The significant time x group interaction indicated that subjects in the control group took their medication on less days over the course of the study compared to the intervention group (F(3, 1224) = 2.34, p <0.10).  Greater involvement in the intervention also led to reductions in opioid abuse (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The patient support program seemed to improve the number of days OD patients took their medication and reduced the likelihood of abusing drugs.  Supplementing B-MAT with a structured compliance-enhancement program may be an effective way to improve adherence with medication in a sample of OD patients.