 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Josiah D. Rich, MD, MPH1, Michelle McKenzie, MPH2, Jim C. Carleton3, Mike A. Rizzi3, Francis A. Wolf, BA2, and Catherine Crosland, MD4. (1) Department of Immunology, The Miriam Hospital /Brown University, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI 02906, (2) Department of Immunology, The Miriam Hospital, 164 Summit Avenue - CFAR Bldg., Providence, RI 02906, 401/793-4790, MMcKenzie@lifespan.org, (3) CODAC Behavioral Health Care, 1052 Park Ave., Cranston, RI 02910, (4) Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115
Background: Nearly 20% of inmates in correctional institutions are heroin users. 20-26% of all people living with HIV and 29-43% of those infected with hepatitis C pass through correctional facilities annually. Methadone is the most widely used pharmacological treatment for opiate dependence. Methadone maintenance treatment is highly effective in reducing drug injection, drug-related criminal behavior, high-risk practices, and HIV seroconversion. While most correctional facilities taper inmates off of methadone or do not offer methadone at all, there exists a unique opportunity to link a high-risk population to methadone treatment upon release with the goal of reducing recidivism, improving health, and increasing personal stability.
Methods: Methadone treatment staff meets with potential participants while still incarcerated to assess eligibility, complete the intake requirements to facilitate entry into treatment upon discharge, and arrange a physician’s appointment at the methadone clinic. During enrollment project staff provide risk reduction counseling and linkage to ancillary services.
Results: Over the past year approximately 50 inmates have been successfully linked with methadone maintenance upon release. We recently received funding from SAMHSA-CSAT to expand and assess this program. This funding also allows us to assist with payment for methadone for up to six months after release. This presentation will describe in more detail the implementation of this innovative project and preliminary results.
Conclusion: Linking inmates with opiate addiction to methadone treatment upon release from incarceration is a promising HIV prevention strategy that may also reduce recidivism.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.