Linkage with methadone treatment upon release from incarceration: a promising opportunity

• Published in: Journal of addictive diseases Vol. 24; no. 3; p. 49
• Main Authors: Rich, Josiah D, McKenzie, Michelle, Shield, David C, Wolf, Francis A, Key, R Garrett, Poshkus, Michael, Clarke, Jennifer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.01.2005
• Subjects: Crime - statistics & numerical data; Health Services Needs and Demand - statistics & numerical data; Hepatitis B - prevention & control; Hepatitis B - transmission; Hepatitis C - prevention & control; Hepatitis C - transmission; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - transmission; Humans; Long-Term Care - statistics & numerical data; Methadone - therapeutic use; Narcotics - therapeutic use; Opioid-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Opioid-Related Disorders - rehabilitation; Prisoners - legislation & jurisprudence; Prisoners - statistics & numerical data; Recurrence; Referral and Consultation - statistics & numerical data; Risk; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - rehabilitation; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - prevention & control; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - transmission; United States; United States
• ISSN: 1055-0887
• DOI: 10.1300/J069v24n03_04

Injection drug users (IDUs) are at increased risk for HIV, viral hepatitis, and tuberculosis, and making up more than a quarter of the incarcerated population in the United States. Methadone maintenance treatment of opiate addiction is highly effective at reducing drug use, drug-related criminal activity, and risk of HIV transmission. Recently released inmates are at particularly high risk for overdose and disease transmission. Linkage to methadone treatment immediately upon release from incarceration is a promising opportunity to combat disease transmission, facilitate reentry into the community, and reduce recidivism.