Medication Call Backs in MOUD: Balancing Diversion Control and Patient-Centered Care

Saturday, April 25, 2026

4:45 PM - 6:00 PM PT

Location: Regatta, Level 4

Presenter(s)

Robert C. Sherrick, MD, DFASAM

Chief Science Officer
Community Medical Services
Kalispell, Montana

Slides
Hillary Tamar, MD, FASAM

Territory Medical Director
Community Medical Services
Bend, Oregon
Aaron Ferguson, BSW

Harm Reduction Coordinator - Leadership Team-Methadone Liaison
National Survivors Union - Community Medical Services
Austin, Texas

Diversion of MOUD medications remains a major regulatory, clinical, and public health concern. This session will examine the scope of diversion, its real-world consequences, and strategies to prevent it without undermining access to care. A key focus will be the role of medication call backs (MCBs)—their effectiveness, limitations, and impact on patients. Drawing on clinical data, literature, and patient perspectives, presenters will outline evidence-informed approaches to diversion control that balance accountability, equity, and treatment retention.

Learning Objectives:

Learners will be able to:

Describe the scope and consequences of medication diversion in MOUD programs, including its clinical, regulatory, and public health implications.
Evaluate the role of medication call backs (MCBs) as a diversion control strategy, including their effectiveness, limitations, and impact on patient engagement and retention.
Identify evidence-informed approaches to diversion prevention that balance accountability with equitable, patient-centered access to treatment.

Disclosure(s):

Robert C. Sherrick, MD, DFASAM: No financial relationships to disclose

Hillary Tamar, MD, FASAM: No financial relationships to disclose

Aaron Ferguson, BSW: No financial relationships to disclose