Buprenorphine for Prisoners
Condition: Heroin Addiction
MeSH terms: Heroin Dependence
Intervention: Buprenorphine +OTP; Buprenorphine +CHC; Counseling +OTP; Counseling +CHC
Intervention description: Buprenorphine thrice weekly and counseling for four months while in pre-release prison, with referral for continued treatment at an opioid agonist treatment (OTP) program upon release. Such treatment lasts for 1 year in the community. Buprenorphine dosage, following an induction period,is 32 mg Mondays and Wednesdays and 48 mg Fridays; Buprenorphine thrice weekly and counseling provided in pre-release prison for 4 months, with referral for continued treatment for 1 year in the community at a community health center (CHC). Following an induction period, buprenorphine dosing will be 32 mg on Mondays and Wednesdays and 48 mg on Fridays.; Counseling only for 4 months in pre-release prison, with referral upon release for buprenorphine treatment and counseling at an opioid agonist treatment program to last for 1 year. Following an induction period, buprenorphine dosing will be thrice weekly, with 32 mg on Mondays and Wednesdays and 48 mg on Fridays.; Counseling only for 4 months in pre-release prison, with referral upon release for buprenorphine treatment and counseling at a community health center to last for 1 year. Following an induction period, buprenorphine dosing will be thrice weekly, with 32 mg on Mondays and Wednesdays and 48 mg on Fridays.
Intervention MeSH terms: Buprenorphine; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination
Phase: Phase 3
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Enrollment: 213.0
Sex: All
Minimum age: 18 Years
Maximum age: 60 Years
Healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Summary:

      This five-year study examines the effectiveness of buprenorphine treatment provided to
      previously-addicted inmates(N=320; 160 males, 160 females) initiated in prison and continued
      in the community. The study also examines the extent to which the setting of post-release
      buprenorphine is provided.It is expected that participants receiving in-prison buprenorphine
      will have superior outcomes compared to participants who did not receive in-prison
      buprenorphine.
    

Eligibility criteria:

        Inclusion Criteria:

          1. pre-release prison inmate with 3-6 months remaining until planned release

          2. history of heroin dependence(meeting DSM-IV criteria of heroin dependence at the time
             of incarceration and manifesting physical dependence during the year preceding
             incarceration

          3. suitability for buprenorphine treatment as determined by medical evaluation

          4. willingness to participate in the study

          5. having a Baltimore address and planning to live in Baltimore after release from prison
             -

        Exclusion Criteria:

          1. evidence of kidney failure

          2. evidence of liver failure

          3. history of psychosis

          4. having a pending parole hearing

          5. unadjudicated charges that could result in additional prison time or transfer to
             another facility -