TY - JOUR
KW - Analgesics, Opioid/therapeutic use
KW - Buprenorphine/therapeutic use
KW - Drug Overdose/drug therapy/prevention & control
KW - Humans
KW - Opiate Substitution Treatment
KW - Opioid-Related Disorders/drug therapy
KW - prisoners
KW - prisons
KW - opioid use disorder
KW - correctional health care
KW - Incarceration
KW - Medication for opioid use disorder
KW - Reentry
AU - P. C. Treitler
AU - M. Enich
AU - D. Reeves
AU - S. Crystal
A1 - 
AB - Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is common among incarcerated persons and risk of overdose and other adverse drug-related consequences is high after release. Recognizing their potential to reduce these risks, some correctional systems are expanding access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). This study explored the experiences and perspectives of formerly incarcerated individuals on MOUD use while incarcerated and after release. Methods: We interviewed 53 individuals with self-reported OUD who were released from New Jersey state prisons. Interviews explored motivations to use MOUD while incarcerated and after release, and experiences with prison-based MOUD and transition to community-based care. We performed cross-case analysis to examine common and divergent perspectives across participants. Results: A common reason for accepting prerelease MOUD was recognition of its effectiveness in preventing drug use, overdose, and other drug-related consequences. Participants who chose not to use MOUD often were focused on being completely medication-free or saw themselves as having relatively low-risk of substance use after a prolonged period without opioid use. A few participants reported challenges related to prison-based MOUD, including logistical barriers, stigma, and once-daily buprenorphine dosing. Most participants effectively transitioned to community-based care, but challenges included insurance lapses and difficulty locating providers. Conclusions: Many formerly incarcerated persons with OUD recognize the value of MOUD in supporting recovery, but some hold negative views of MOUD or underestimate the likelihood that they will return to drug use. Patient education on risks of post-release overdose, the role of MOUD in mitigating risk, and MOUD options available to them could increase engagement. Participants' generally positive experiences with MOUD support the expansion of correctional MOUD programs.
AD - Center for Health Services Research, Institute for Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.; School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.; Center for Health Services Research, Institute for Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.; School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.; Rutgers University Correctional Health Care, Trenton, NJ, USA.; Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA.; Center for Health Services Research, Institute for Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.; School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.; School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
BT - Substance abuse
C5 - Education & Workforce; Healthcare Disparities; Opioids & Substance Use
CP - 1
CY - United States
DO - 10.1080/08897077.2022.2060448
IS - 1
JF - Substance abuse
LA - eng
M1 - Journal Article
N2 - Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is common among incarcerated persons and risk of overdose and other adverse drug-related consequences is high after release. Recognizing their potential to reduce these risks, some correctional systems are expanding access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). This study explored the experiences and perspectives of formerly incarcerated individuals on MOUD use while incarcerated and after release. Methods: We interviewed 53 individuals with self-reported OUD who were released from New Jersey state prisons. Interviews explored motivations to use MOUD while incarcerated and after release, and experiences with prison-based MOUD and transition to community-based care. We performed cross-case analysis to examine common and divergent perspectives across participants. Results: A common reason for accepting prerelease MOUD was recognition of its effectiveness in preventing drug use, overdose, and other drug-related consequences. Participants who chose not to use MOUD often were focused on being completely medication-free or saw themselves as having relatively low-risk of substance use after a prolonged period without opioid use. A few participants reported challenges related to prison-based MOUD, including logistical barriers, stigma, and once-daily buprenorphine dosing. Most participants effectively transitioned to community-based care, but challenges included insurance lapses and difficulty locating providers. Conclusions: Many formerly incarcerated persons with OUD recognize the value of MOUD in supporting recovery, but some hold negative views of MOUD or underestimate the likelihood that they will return to drug use. Patient education on risks of post-release overdose, the role of MOUD in mitigating risk, and MOUD options available to them could increase engagement. Participants' generally positive experiences with MOUD support the expansion of correctional MOUD programs.
PP - United States
PY - 2022
SN - 1547-0164; 0889-7077
SP - 964
EP - 971
EP - 
T1 - Medications for opioid use disorder in state prisons: Perspectives of formerly incarcerated persons
T2 - Substance abuse
TI - Medications for opioid use disorder in state prisons: Perspectives of formerly incarcerated persons
U1 - Education & Workforce; Healthcare Disparities; Opioids & Substance Use
U2 - 35420973
U3 - 10.1080/08897077.2022.2060448
VL - 43
VO - 1547-0164; 0889-7077
Y1 - 2022
ER -