Assessing Need for Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opiate-Dependent Prison Inmates

• NCJ Number: 239136
• Journal: Substance Abuse Volume: 33 Issue: 1 Dated: January-March 2012 Pages: 60-69
• Author(s): Carmen E. Albizu-Garcia, M.D.; Jose Noel Caraballo, Ph.D.; Glorimar Caraballo-Correa, M.S.; Adriana Hernández-Viver, M.S.; Luis Román-Badenas, Psy.D.
• Date Published: February 2012
• Length: 10 pages
• Grant Number(s): R24 DA024868
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; Puerto Rico Dept of Correction and Rehabilitation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study was commissioned to provide the Puerto Rico Department of Correction and Rehabilitation with data to address the gap in drug treatment services for opiate-addicted inmates in their system.

Abstract

Individuals with a history of heroin dependence are overrepresented in American correctional facilities and 75 percent of inmates with a drug use disorder do not receive treatment during incarceration or after release. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with opiate agonists, such as methadone or buprenorphine, constitutes standard of care; to guide planning for an expansion of drug treatment services in correctional facilities, a needs assessment was conducted at the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (DCR) of Puerto Rico (PR). The authors report on the research process, the findings that informed their recommendations for the DCR to expand MAT for eligible inmates, and lessons learned. (Published Abstract)