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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Portia Thurmond, BA¹, Michelle McKenzie, MPH¹, Grace Macalino, PhD², and Josiah Rich, MD, MPH³. (1) Infectious Disease/Immunology, The Miriam Hospital/Brown Medical School, 164 Summit Ave., CFAR Bldg., Providence, RI 02906, 401/793-4908, pthurmond@lifespan.org, (2) Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, NEMC, 750 Washington St., #63, Boston, MA 02111, (3) Medicine and Community Health, Brown Medical School, Miriam Hospital, 164 Summit Ave, Providence, RI 02906

BACKGROUND: Approximately 20% of incarcerated individuals in the US have a history of opiate addiction. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has been shown to be an effective treatment strategy. Inmates are disproportionately affected by risk factors leading to relapse, overdose, blood-borne disease and recidivism. Linking opiate addicted ex-offenders to MMT upon release is a unique opportunity to increase access to treatment for this population. METHODS: Participants are recruited from the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, make logistical arrangements for entering methadone treatment entry upon release, and provide partial financial assistance for MMT for 24 weeks. Clients are followed for one year. Data are collected at baseline, six, and twelve months. Baseline and 12 month measures were compared using McNemar test and paired t-tests. RESULTS: In November 2005, 122 participants completed 12-month interviews. Participants were a mean age of 40.4 years, 29% female, 16.4% African-American, and 9.02% Latino. Nearly 39% were still in MMT. Average length of MMT was 30.5 weeks. The proportion of participants reporting injection in the past 30 days, heroin use, benzodiazepine use, cocaine use and polysubstance use at baseline significantly decreased at 12 months. The proportion of participants reporting living in a place they rented or bought, being employed, and being disabled at baseline significantly increased at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Comparisons between baseline and 12 month data strongly suggest that linking opiate addicted ex-offenders to MMT and providing a brief financial intervention may lead to decreases in risk behaviors associated with release from incarceration and drug use.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this learning session particpants will be able to

• Identify barriers to treatment attrition among opiate-addicted ex-offenders
• Evaluate the effectiveness of a brief financial intervention on methadone treatment retention, drug use, and mental health status
• Discuss additional ways to increase access to methadone treatment among eligible ex-offenders

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered