Abstract | BACKGROUND: OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: We surveyed the 50 state; Washington, District of Columbia (DC); and Federal Department of Corrections' medical directors or their equivalents about their facilities' ORT prescribing policies and referral programs for inmates leaving prison. RESULTS: We received responses from 51 of 52 prison systems nationwide. Twenty-eight prison systems (55%) offer methadone to inmates in some situations. Methadone use varies widely across states: over 50% of correctional facilities that offer methadone do so exclusively for pregnant women or for chronic pain management. Seven states' prison systems (14%) offer buprenorphine to some inmates. The most common reason cited for not offering ORT was that facilities "prefer drug-free detoxification over providing methadone or buprenorphine." Twenty-three states' prison systems (45%) provide referrals for some inmates to methadone maintenance programs after release, which increased from 8% in 2003; 15 states' prison systems (29%) provide some referrals to community buprenorphine providers. CONCLUSION: Despite demonstrated social, medical, and economic benefits of providing ORT to inmates during incarceration and linkage to ORT upon release, many prison systems nationwide still do not offer pharmacological treatment for opiate addiction or referrals for ORT upon release.
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Authors | Amy Nunn, Nickolas Zaller, Samuel Dickman, Catherine Trimbur, Ank Nijhawan, Josiah D Rich |
Journal | Drug and alcohol dependence
(Drug Alcohol Depend)
Vol. 105
Issue 1-2
Pg. 83-8
(11 01 2009)
ISSN: 1879-0046 [Electronic] Ireland |
PMID | 19625142
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
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Chemical References |
- Narcotic Antagonists
- Narcotics
- Buprenorphine
- Methadone
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Topics |
- Buprenorphine
(therapeutic use)
- Drug Utilization
- Female
- Health Care Surveys
- Heroin Dependence
(rehabilitation)
- Humans
- Male
- Methadone
(therapeutic use)
- Narcotic Antagonists
(therapeutic use)
- Narcotics
(therapeutic use)
- Pregnancy
- Prisoners
- Prisons
(statistics & numerical data)
- Referral and Consultation
- United States
(epidemiology)
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