Linkage with Methadone Treatment Upon Release From Incarceration: A Promising Opportunity

• NCJ Number: 212300
• Journal: Journal of Addictive Diseases Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: 2005 Pages: 49-59
• Author(s): Josiah D. Rich M.D.; Michelle McKenzie M.P.H; David C. Shield B.A.; Francis A. Wolf B.A.; R. Garrett Key B.A.; Michael Poshkus M.D.; Jennifer Clarke M.D.
• Date Published: 2005
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): P30-AI-42853; 5T32DA13911-03; H79-TI-014562
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institutes of Health; US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article explores the benefits of offering methadone treatment to inmates immediately upon their release.

Abstract

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and a disproportionate number of those incarcerated are drug users. Injection drug users (IDUs) make up more than a quarter of incarcerated offenders and are at heightened risk for a range of deleterious outcomes, such as HIV infection, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis. Research has indicated that methadone treatment can be effective at reducing drug use and related risks. However, due to a number of barriers to methadone treatment, such as social stigmatism and high costs, the people who most need methadone treatment are the least likely to receive it. Moreover, methadone treatment programs targeting inmates are exceedingly rare although such programs have been shown to be economically advantageous. The correctional setting should be used as a conduit to link methadone treatment to inmates immediately upon release in order to reduce disease transmission and criminal recidivism. References