Research Translation

Findings from JCOIN’s Coordination and Translation Center In a new article published in JAMA, JCOIN researchers found that 27.6% of United States jails offer all three FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD)—methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone—to select individuals, and 16.9% offer them to anyone with opioid use disorder (OUD). Providing MOUD during incarceration creates an…

Findings from JCOIN’s Coordination and Translation Center   Overdose is the leading cause of death for people recently released from jail or prison, with individuals within two weeks of their date of release being 12–40 times more likely to die than other residents of the states studied.1,2 Research shows that individuals treated at a correctional…

Insights from Research on Expanding Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder In a recent article published in Health & Justice (2025), Drs. Faye S. Taxman and Steven Belenko explore the role of implementation science (IS) as a vital strategy in enhancing health outcomes for individuals in the criminal legal systems. IS is a framework of subframes,…

Recent findings from a nationally representative survey found that only 44% of U.S. jails provide medications to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and only 13% offered at least one medication to anyone with OUD who requested it. The survey of 1,028 jails was conducted between June 2022 and April 2023 by JCOIN researchers. MOUD has…

Findings from JCOIN’s University of Kentucky Research Center and Methodology and Advanced Analytics Resource Center (MAARC) The number of women with a substance use disorder (SUD) has grown exponentially in recent years. Rebuilding social support networks that were strained due to an individual’s active addiction is a significant protective factor for women in recovery. Support…

Stigma related to substance use and criminal-legal (CL) involvement hinders an individual’s access to evidence-based addiction treatment. Stigma manifests at the structural, social, and personal levels and requires multi-level interventions to address it effectively. In a study published in Health and Justice, researchers conducted a non-randomized effectiveness trial of a multi-level stigma intervention called Combatting…

Xylazine is a non-opioid sedative not approved for human use that is increasingly found as an adulterant in the illicit drug supply and is contributing to record levels of overdose deaths. The Xylazine 101 video explainer discusses the prevalence and toxicology of xylazine, major concerns, and overdose response strategies. Experts share concrete strategies and resources…

Findings from JCOIN’s Coordination and Translation Center (CTC)   A recent study published in the journal Victims & Offenders explores the inner workings of Veterans Treatment Courts and the unique treatment needs of justice-involved veterans. Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) have emerged as a mechanism for addressing the unique needs of veterans who find themselves entangled…

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) approved Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Utah, and Vermont to provide healthcare coverage for justice involved-individuals before their release from incarceration, which will improve continuity of care. This latest round of state approvals is part of Medicaid Reentry Section 1115 Demonstration Opportunity, which allows a state to cover…

Findings from JCOIN’s Yale HIV Research Center The intersection of substance use disorders (SUD) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presents a complex public health challenge, as behaviors associated with substance use, such as sharing drug injection equipment (syringes) and engaging in risky sexual behaviors, significantly increase the risk of HIV incidents and complicate its management.…