Correlates and Patterns in Use of Medications to Treat Opioid Use Disorder in Jail

Summary

Little is known about the correlates of use of medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD, ie, buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone) offered in jails. We evaluated the implementation and outcomes of a MOUD program offered by 2 of the first jails nationwide to provide access to such care. At jail entry, 48.7% of individuals with opioid use disorder were being treated with MOUD. During incarceration, 65.1% received MOUD, attributable to a 9.2% increase in use of methadone (from 15.9% to 25.1%) and a 10.1% increase in use of buprenorphine (from 28.5% to 38.6%). During incarceration, 32.3% of individuals were continued on the same MOUD from the community, 25.4% were started, 8.9% stopped, and 7.5% switched type. A total of 25.9% entered jail not on any MOUD and were not started on it. Use of MOUD during incarceration was positively associated with having received MOUD in the community (odds ratio, 12.2; 95% confidence interval, 5.8-25.5) and incarceration at site 1 compared with site 2 (OR, 24.6; 95% CI, 10.9-54.4). Expanded access to MOUD in jails can engage an at-risk population with treatment. Understanding factors related to this population’s use of MOUD may aid efforts to optimize care during incarceration and after community re-entry.

Publication Year: 2023

Lead Author: Amelia Bailey

Journal: Journal of Addiction Medicine

Publication Type(s): MOUD Services