CommUnityCare Health Centers and Central Health Launch Long-Acting Buprenorphine Pilot, Expanding Access to Life-Saving Addiction Care 

Published August 20, 2026

CommUnityCare Health Centers and Central Health are expanding access to evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder through a new pilot offering long-acting injectable buprenorphine. In July 2026, the CommUnityCare Health Centers Wellness & Holistic Addiction Medicine (WHAM) team, part of the Central Health system, administered its first long-acting buprenorphine injection, marking a significant milestone in advancing addiction care for the communities it serves. 

“At the heart of this milestone are the patients we serve. This program gives individuals living with opioid use disorder access to another proven treatment option that can support recovery, improve continuity of care and ultimately save lives,” said Dr. Mike Stefanowicz, Chief Health Officer at CommUnityCare Health Centers. 

Long-acting injectable buprenorphine is an FDA-approved medication that provides sustained treatment for opioid use disorder, helping reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms while eliminating the need for daily medication. By offering a longer-acting treatment option, the pilot aims to improve continuity of care, support long-term recovery and reduce barriers that can make treatment difficult to maintain. The pilot will provide up to 90 injections for established patients within the WHAM Program who meet specific clinical criteria. The pilot is prioritizing patients at the highest risk for adverse health outcomes, individuals reentering the community after incarceration and those with strong recovery capital. 

“This milestone represents months of thoughtful planning and close collaboration across the Central Health system,” said Alanna Boulton, Director of Healthcare Delivery Operations for Mental Health and Addiction Care at Central Health. “Together, our teams developed an innovative pharmacist-led program that will provide another life-saving treatment option for the patients we serve.” 

The new service was made possible through multi-disciplinary collaboration among clinical, pharmacy, operational and leadership teams, resulting in a pharmacist-led model that expands treatment options for patients receiving care through the WHAM program. 

At the center of the model is Sarah Torok, PharmD, who helped design and implement the service and now provides clinical pharmacy care as a member of the WHAM team. Torok brought together expertise from across the System to build the medication access, compliance, and clinical processes necessary to make long-acting buprenorphine available to patients. In her clinical role, she works directly with patients to optimize treatment, address medication needs and side effects, and support continuity of care. 

For Torok, the impact is already tangible. One patient described the freedom of long-acting treatment simply, “I get to wake up every day, not worried about having to take medications. It feels normal.” Torok said experiences like this show that the work is saving lives and making people’s quality of life better. Helping keep some patients alive while restoring dignity. 

“For some of our patients, the circumstances of daily life can make staying on lifesaving medication extraordinarily difficult. Long-acting treatment offers patients another tool for protection, stability, and hope,” said Dr. John Embers, Director of Integration for Substance Use Disorder Continuum at Central Health. “This work also shows what is possible when we organize our system around the needs of our patients.” 

As the pilot progresses, CommUnityCare Health Centers and Central Health will evaluate patient outcomes and program utilization to help inform future expansion of the service and support its long-term sustainability. 

The launch reflects the ongoing commitment to expanding access to person-centered, innovative, evidence-based care that improves health outcomes and supports recovery for individuals living with substance use disorders.  

To learn more about the Wellness & Holistic Addiction Medicine services at CommUnityCare Health Centers, visit HERE.