title: Buprenorphine-naloxone Treatment for Pre-release Opioid-dependent Inmates in Puerto Rico.
abstract: The following study, conducted in Puerto Rico, examined the feasibility of providing daily buprenorphine-naloxone (bup-nx) in prison and on release to 45 male inmates with histories of heroin addiction. Participants were assessed at study entry and at 1 month after release (N = 42; 93.3% follow-up rate). Treatment completers compared with noncompleters had significantly greater reductions in self-reported heroin use, cocaine use, and crime and were less likely to be opioid-positive according to urine drug testing. Despite study limitations, the short-term outcomes of this study suggest that bup-nx may contribute to reductions in readdiction to heroin and in criminal activities among re-entering male prisoners.
authors.affiliation: From the Center for Evaluation and Sociomedical Research (CAG, GCC, ADHV), University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Friends Research Institute, Inc. (TWK, MSG, RPS), Social Research Center, Baltimore, MD; Division of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Social Policy (TWK), University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD; Correctional Health Services Corporation (CAA, ICR), Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico; Open Society Institute-Baltimore (RPS), Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Carmen Albizu
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Glorimar Caraballo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: Adriana D Hernandez
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Viver
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kinlock
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Cristobal Antron
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: Ivette Colón
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Schwartz