Buprenorphine Treatment for Probationers and Parolees.
BACKGROUND
Pharmacotherapy studies involving buprenorphine have rarely been conducted with U.S. community corrections populations. This is one of the first reports of buprenorphine treatment outcomes of adult opioid-dependent probationers and parolees.


METHODS
This longitudinal study examined the 3-month treatment outcomes for a sample of probation and parole clients (N = 64) who received community-based buprenorphine treatment.


RESULTS
Approximately two thirds of the sample (67%) were still in treatment at 3 months post baseline. Furthermore, there was a significant decline in the number of self-reported heroin use days and crime days from baseline to 3 months post baseline. Although there was not a significant reduction in reincarcerations, there was no evidence that they had increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Given that buprenorphine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe, effective treatment for opioid use disorders, individuals on parole or probation should have the opportunity to benefit from it through community-based programs.
a Department of Psychology , Friends Research Institute , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
Michael S
MS
Gordon
Timothy W
TW
Kinlock
Robert P
RP
Schwartz
Kathryn A
KA
Couvillion
Laura J
LJ
Sudec
Kevin E
KE
O'Grady
Frank J
FJ
Vocci
Hamin
H
Shabazz
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057237:Criminals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine treatment; opioid use; parolees; probationers