title: Impact of methadone maintenance treatment on women offenders' post-release recidivism.
abstract: Drug--including opioid--dependence is common in correctional populations, however little research exists on interventions for women offenders. Based on retrospective administrative data, we examined rates of return to custody (RTC) among three samples of Canadian federal women offenders with problematic opioid use (total n=137): (1) a group initiated on MMT during incarceration who continued MMT post-release (MMT-C; n=25); (2) a group initiated on MMT but who terminated treatment post-release (MMT-T; n=67), and (3) a non-MMT control group (MMT-N; n=45). Study groups were similar regarding socio-demographic, drug use and criminogenic indicators. Based on an unadjusted Cox proportional hazards model, the MMT-C group had a 65% lower risk of RTC than the MMT-N (reference) group (HR 0.35, CI 0.13-0.90); RTC risk was not different between the MMT-T and the reference group. Most RTCs were for technical revocations (e.g. violation of a legal condition of their release). Continuous MMT following release from corrections appears to be effective in reducing recidivism in women offenders with opioid problems; barriers to MMT in the study population should be better understood and ameliorated.
authors: Addictions Research Centre, Research Branch, Correctional Service Canada, Montague, P.E.I., Canada.
authors: Shanna
authors: S
authors: Farrell-MacDonald
authors: Mary-Ann
authors: MA
authors: MacSwain
authors: Madelon
authors: M
authors: Cheverie
authors: Maija
authors: M
authors: Tiesmaki
authors: Benedikt
authors: B
authors: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057237:Criminals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D060046:Maintenance Chemotherapy; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone