The impact of COVID-19 on the treatment of opioid use disorder in carceral facilities: a cross-sectional study

Summary

While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery everywhere, persons with carceral system involvement and opioid use disorder (OUD) were disproportionately impacted and vulnerable to severe COVID-associated illness. Carceral settings and community treatment programs (CTPs) rapidly developed protocols to sustain healthcare delivery while reducing risk of COVID-19 transmission. This survey study assessed changes to OUD treatment, telemedicine use, and re-entry support services among carceral and CTPs participating in the NIDA-funded EXIT-CJS study in the period immediately preceding and following the onset of the pandemic.

Publication Year: 2022

Lead Author: EC Saunders

Journal: Health & Justice