Randomized trial of methadone treatment of arrestees: 24-month post-release outcomes

We report on the 24-month post-release outcomes of arrestees with opioid use disorder (OUD) enrolled in a randomized trial comparing three treatment approaches initiated in jail.

Adults (N = 225) receiving medically supervised withdrawal from opioids in the Baltimore Detention Center within a few days of arrest were randomly assigned to: (1) interim methadone treatment plus patient navigation (IM + PN) started in the Detention Center; (2) IM; or (3) Enhanced Treatment-as-Usual (ETAU) consisting of detoxification with methadone and referral to treatment in the community. Participants in both methadone conditions could transfer to standard methadone treatment following release. Participants were interviewed at baseline, and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-release. Urine was drug tested at follow-up and official arrest records were obtained.

On an intention-to-treat basis, there were no significant differences among the three conditions over the 24-month post-release period in terms of opioid- or cocaine-positive urine test results or self-reported opioid or cocaine use, meeting opioid or cocaine use disorder criteria, self-reported criminal behavior, or the number of official arrests. There were 9 fatal overdoses, none occurring during methadone treatment, and 109 hospitalizations unrelated to the study.

Given the high morbidity and mortality found in this population of arrestees and costs to society associated with their health care utilization and continued crime and arrests, research aimed at finding more effective interventions should be continued.

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02334215.