University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky Hub is studying the effectiveness of initiating treatment services through telehealth and peer navigation for justice-involved women with opioid use disorder (OUD) as they transition from jail to the community. Through these services, participants will be able to engage with community health providers and peer navigators prior to release. The study will be conducted in nine jails across Kentucky, with the goal of increasing medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) initiation and retention, while reducing relapse and overdose among high-risk justice-involved women in the community following their release from jail.

Study Aims

Compare the effectiveness of MOUD pretreatment with telehealth alone and in combination with peer navigation services

Measure MOUD initiation, retention, and treatment engagement

Reduce opioid relapse and overdose

Optimize strategies for implementing and sustaining MOUD telehealth

Study Sites

Kentucky

Study Settings

Jails (9)

Principal Investigator

A woman with long blonde hair smiling and wearing a blue top, standing in front of a cloudy blue background.

Michele Staton

PhD, University of Kentucky

Health Agency Partner

  • Katherine Marks, Kentucky Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities

Justice Agency Partner

  • Sarah Johnson, Kentucky Department of Corrections, Division of Addiction Services