Buprenorphine-naloxone Treatment for Pre-release Opioid-dependent Inmates in Puerto Rico.

Abstract

The following study, conducted in Puerto Rico, examined the feasibility of providing daily buprenorphine-naloxone (bup-nx) in prison and on release to 45 male inmates with histories of heroin addiction. Participants were assessed at study entry and at 1 month after release (N = 42; 93.3% follow-up rate). Treatment completers compared with noncompleters had significantly greater reductions in self-reported heroin use, cocaine use, and crime and were less likely to be opioid-positive according to urine drug testing. Despite study limitations, the short-term outcomes of this study suggest that bup-nx may contribute to reductions in readdiction to heroin and in criminal activities among re-entering male prisoners.

• Authors: Carmen Albizu Garcia, Glorimar Caraballo Correa, Adriana D Hernandez Viver, Timothy W Kinlock, Michael S Gordon, Cristobal Antron Avila, Ivette Colón Reyes, Robert P Schwartz
• Journal: Journal of addiction medicine (J Addict Med) Vol. 1 Issue 3 Pg. 126-32 (Sep 2007) ISSN: 1932-0620 [Print] United States
• PMID: 21768947 (Publication Type: Journal Article)