Effect of incarceration history on outcomes of primary care office-based buprenorphine/naloxone.
BACKGROUND
Behaviors associated with opioid dependence often involve criminal activity, which can lead to incarceration. The impact of a history of incarceration on outcomes in primary care office-based buprenorphine/naloxone is not known.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to determine whether having a history of incarceration affects response to primary care office-based buprenorphine/naloxone treatment.


METHODS
In this post hoc secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, we compared demographic, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes among 166 participants receiving primary care office-based buprenorphine/naloxone treatment stratifying on history of incarceration.


RESULTS
Participants with a history of incarceration have similar treatment outcomes with primary care office-based buprenorphine/naloxone than those without a history of incarceration (consecutive weeks of opioid-negative urine samples, 6.2 vs. 5.9, p = 0.43; treatment retention, 38% vs. 46%, p = 0.28).


CONCLUSIONS
Prior history of incarceration does not appear to impact primary care office-based treatment of opioid dependence with buprenorphine/naloxone. Community health care providers can be reassured that initiating buprenorphine/naloxone in opioid dependent individuals with a history of incarceration will have similar outcomes as those without this history.
Wang
Emily A
EA
Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. emily.wang@yale.edu
Moore
Brent A
BA
Sullivan
Lynn E
LE
Fiellin
David A
DA
D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009819:Office Visits; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D009270:Naloxone; D002047:Buprenorphine