Time for Australia to increase take away doses in opioid agonist treatment.

• Requirements for supervised dosing have traditionally limited engagement in opioid agonist therapy. • COVID-19 necessitated increased flexibility of takeaway doses for people in receipt of opioid agonist therapy. • Australian and global evidence demonstrate increased treatment engagement, improved patient-centred care and no evidence of increased harms related to this flexibility. • International jurisdictions are adopting their COVID-19 takeaway dose provisions as status quo. • It is time that Australia follow suit and make permanent the takeaway dose provisions outlined in the Interim Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Guidance. Opioid Agonist Treatment is the cornerstone of minimising harms related to opioid use, however its uptake is limited by a tightly regulated and stigmatising treatment environment. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated relaxation of some treatment restrictions, with global evidence pointing to more patient-centred care in this time. In light of local evidence to support the safety of increased access to takeaway doses and a precedent set by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, we recommend adoption of the Australian Interim Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence guidance in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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