Buprenorphine Treatment for Probationers and Parolees

ABSTRACT

Background: Pharmacotherapy studies involving buprenorphine have rarely been conducted with US community corrections populations. This is one of the first reports of buprenorphine treatment outcomes of adult opioid-dependent probationers and parolees. Methods: This longitudinal study examined the 3-month treatment outcomes for a sample of probation and parole clients (N = 64) who received community-based buprenorphine treatment. Results: Approximately two thirds of the sample (67%) were still in treatment at 3 months post baseline. Furthermore, there was a significant decline in the number of self-reported heroin use days and crime days from baseline to 3 months post baseline. Although there was not a significant reduction in reincarcerations, there was no evidence that they had increased. Conclusions: Given that buprenorphine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe, effective treatment for opioid use disorders, individuals on parole or probation should have the opportunity to benefit from it through community-based programs.

Keywords:

• Buprenorphine treatment
• opioid use
• parolees
• probationers

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) and the 3 Baltimore City substance abuse treatment clinics for their collaboration and support. We also wish to thank all of the participants in this study.

Funding

This study was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as a supplement to the parent grant entitled, Buprenorphine for Prisoners (Principal Investigator [PI]: Kinlock; R01DA021579). Authors Couvillion, Sudec, and Shabazz report no conflicts of interest. A NIDA-funded study conducted by Kinlock, Gordon, and Schwartz (grant no. 1R01 DA021579) received buprenorphine/naloxone from Reckitt-Benckiser for its study participants. Drs. Vocci and O’Grady have, in the past, received reimbursement for their time from Reckitt-Benckiser, one of the manufacturers of buprenorphine. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Drs. Gordon, Kinlock, and Schwartz were responsible for research conception and all aspects of the study. Mrs Couvillion and Ms. Sudec were responsible for collection of the data. Dr. O’Grady was responsible for data analysis, interpretation of the results, writing, and revision. Dr. Vocci was responsible for interpretation of the results, writing, and revision. Dr. Shabazz was responsible for writing and revision.