Background: People with opioid use disorders (OUDs) are at heightened risk for involvement with the criminal justice system. Growing evidence supports the safety and effectiveness of providing empirically supported treatments for OUD, such as medications for OUD (M-OUD), to people with criminal justice involvement including during incarceration or upon reentry into the community. However, several barriers limit availability and accessibility of these treatment options for people with OUDs, including a shortage of healthcare and justice professionals trained in how to implement them. This study evaluated a novel education program, the Indiana Jail OUD Treatment ECHO, designed to disseminate specialty knowledge and improve attitudes about providing M-OUD in justice settings. Methods: Through didactic presentations and case-based learning (10 bimonthly, 90-min sessions), a multidisciplinary panel of specialists interacted with a diverse group of community-based participants from healthcare, criminal justice, law enforcement, and related fields. Participants completed standardized surveys about OUD knowledge and attitudes about delivering M-OUD in correctional settings. Thematic analysis of case presentations was conducted. Results: Among 43 participants with pre- and post-series evaluation data, knowledge about OUD increased and treatment was viewed as more practical after the ECHO series compared to before. Cases presented during the program typically involved complicated medical and psychiatric comorbidities, and recommendations addressed several themes including harm reduction, post-release supports, and integration of M-OUD and non-pharmacological interventions. Conclusions: Evaluation of future iterations of this innovative program should address attendance and provider behavior change as well as patient and community outcomes associated with ECHO participation.
AD - Adolescent Behavioral Health Research Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.; Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.; Prevention Insights, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.; Adolescent Behavioral Health Research Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.; Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.; Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.; Adolescent Behavioral Health Research Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.; Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.; Prevention Insights, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.; University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.; Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.; Purdue University College of Pharmacy, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.; Adolescent Behavioral Health Research Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.; Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. BT - Substance abuse C5 - Education & Workforce; Opioids & Substance Use; HIT & Telehealth CP - 1 DO - 10.1080/08897077.2021.1941518 IS - 1 JF - Substance abuse LA - eng M1 - Journal Article N2 -Background: People with opioid use disorders (OUDs) are at heightened risk for involvement with the criminal justice system. Growing evidence supports the safety and effectiveness of providing empirically supported treatments for OUD, such as medications for OUD (M-OUD), to people with criminal justice involvement including during incarceration or upon reentry into the community. However, several barriers limit availability and accessibility of these treatment options for people with OUDs, including a shortage of healthcare and justice professionals trained in how to implement them. This study evaluated a novel education program, the Indiana Jail OUD Treatment ECHO, designed to disseminate specialty knowledge and improve attitudes about providing M-OUD in justice settings. Methods: Through didactic presentations and case-based learning (10 bimonthly, 90-min sessions), a multidisciplinary panel of specialists interacted with a diverse group of community-based participants from healthcare, criminal justice, law enforcement, and related fields. Participants completed standardized surveys about OUD knowledge and attitudes about delivering M-OUD in correctional settings. Thematic analysis of case presentations was conducted. Results: Among 43 participants with pre- and post-series evaluation data, knowledge about OUD increased and treatment was viewed as more practical after the ECHO series compared to before. Cases presented during the program typically involved complicated medical and psychiatric comorbidities, and recommendations addressed several themes including harm reduction, post-release supports, and integration of M-OUD and non-pharmacological interventions. Conclusions: Evaluation of future iterations of this innovative program should address attendance and provider behavior change as well as patient and community outcomes associated with ECHO participation.
PY - 2022 SN - 1547-0164; 0889-7077; 0889-7077 SP - 336 EP - 343 EP - T1 - Use of Project ECHO to promote evidence based care for justice involved adults with opioid use disorder T2 - Substance abuse TI - Use of Project ECHO to promote evidence based care for justice involved adults with opioid use disorder U1 - Education & Workforce; Opioids & Substance Use; HIT & Telehealth U2 - 34283701 U3 - 10.1080/08897077.2021.1941518 VL - 43 VO - 1547-0164; 0889-7077; 0889-7077 Y1 - 2022 ER -