Posts by Jason Lutjen
Feasibility of a citizen-driven hackathon to increase public engagement and solutions to address the opioid crisis
A relatively new technology-based approach to improve health outcomes is the use of hackathons, multidisciplinary team-based competitions used to develop a solution to a challenge within a short period. Implementing a 24-hour hackathon for solving problems related to the opioid epidemic involving individuals from public health, law enforcement, research, and data science, was found to…
Read MoreClinical Care, Research, and Telehealth Services in the Era of Social Distancing to Mitigate COVID-19
This publication describes considerations for the integration of technologies that have become prevalent due to the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., telemedicine, social media, apps, chatbots, biosensors) and extensions of those technologies into HIV care and research. Although it is not clear how these technologies will change post-pandemic, the most effective systems should combine these technologies due…
Read MoreA Scoping Review of Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation of Medications for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder within the Criminal Justice System
This scoping review analyzed existing peer-reviewed literature on the use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) within the criminal justice system. Researchers found four main categories of barriers and facilitators to the implementation of MOUD: institutional (characteristics, policies, regulations), programmatic (operations, practices, interventions), attitudinal (attitudes, knowledge, beliefs), and systemic (interactions between the criminal justice…
Read MoreOne guy goes to jail, two people are ready to take his spot: Perspectives on drug-induced homicide laws among incarcerated individuals
This study used semi-structured qualitative interviews to gather perceptions regarding the Rhode Island drug-induced homicide law from 40 incarcerated individuals enrolled in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. This law provides up to life-in-prison for selling, distributing, or delivering a drug that subsequently leads to a fatal overdose. Although responses varied, the majority of participants…
Read MoreProcess for Requesting National Death Index Data
JCOIN Speaker Series: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Criminal Justice Settings (3-5-2021)
Of the 2 million individuals in prison and jail in the United States, 19 percent have regularly used opioids. Studies have found that individuals returning from incarceration to the community are at a high risk of a fatal overdose during the transition. A Washington State study found that individuals released from prison and jail were…
Read MoreApply for the JEAP Initiative Training Institute
Interested in becoming an NIH-funded researcher? Interested in recovery support services for people with substance use disorder? Apply for the JEAP Initiative Training Institute! Organized by the Oregon Social Learning Center, this two-year individualized training and mentoring program is designed to support you in becoming an NIH-funded researcher focused on recovery support services. The Training Institute…
Read MoreVirtual Meeting: Substance Use, Criminal Justice System Involvement, and Stigma (2-24-2021)
This presentation and discussion focused on stigma related to substance use and criminal justice system involvement, including how stigma affects health outcomes, and interventions that can be used to address stigma and improve well-being. Presenters: Valerie A. Earnshaw, Ph.D., University of Delaware Benjamin A. Howell, MD, MPH, MHS, Yale School of Medicine Watch the webinar
Read MoreVideo Explainer: Reentry Risks for Justice-Involved Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder
There are many opportunities to respond to opioid addiction in the criminal justice system, with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) being the gold standard for treatment. While we know that reentry is a particularly high-risk time for individuals with an opioid use disorder, research shows that providing MOUD pre- and post-release cuts the risk…
Read MoreJCOIN Rapid Innovation Grant (J-RIG) Program
The JCOIN Rapid Innovation Grant (J-RIG) program is a rapid-funding mechanism to support small research grants to study newly emerging policies, practices, or interventions that address prevention and treatment of addiction in justice settings. While opioids are a key priority for J-RIG projects, applications may focus more broadly on other substance use issues, particularly substances…
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