The Importance of Justice and Health Care Partnerships in MOUD Feasibility Trials

ABSTRACT

This paper overviews the importance of justice and health-care partnerships in a MOUD feasibility trial in a rural Appalachian community. Research partners included a local jail, a local community supervision office, and a local community federally qualified health center. This paper describes the pilot feasibility study participants and methodology, as well as lessons learned including the challenges encountered and needed changes to address feasibility as the environment changes over time. Implications for social work research, practice, and policy advocacy focused on delivery of extended-release naltrexone and other MOUDs are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• justice-involved individuals
• opioid medication treatment
• opioid use disorder
• rural treatment

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to recognize the support and contribution of the leadership of the Kentucky Department of Corrections as a partner on this project. Views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department, but rather only those of the authors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data can be made available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This research and the preparation of this manuscript were supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) R34DA045856 (MS).