Naltrexone implants compared to methadone: outcomes six months after prison release

Area of Science:

• Addiction medicine
• Criminal justice health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Individuals recently released from prison with heroin use disorders face high relapse and overdose risks.
• Effective treatments initiated during incarceration and continued post-release are critically needed.
• Methadone maintenance treatment is established for reducing heroin use, crime, and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare naltrexone implants with methadone treatment for heroin-dependent inmates post-release.
• To evaluate effects on illicit drug use and criminality.

Main Methods:

• A randomized study comparing naltrexone implants and methadone treatment.
• Participants were heroin-dependent inmates awaiting prison release.
• Outcomes assessed 6 months post-release.

Main Results:

• Both naltrexone implants and methadone treatment groups showed reduced frequency of heroin and benzodiazepine use.
• Criminality was also reduced in both treatment groups.
• These positive effects were observed 6 months after prison release.

Conclusions:

• Naltrexone implants may offer a viable treatment option for opioid use disorder within prison settings.
• The study supports the use of naltrexone implants as an alternative to methadone for incarcerated populations.