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Updated: Jun 7, 2025

A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence
Published on: March 23, 2022
Opioid substitution treatment, relapse and addiction-related outcomes in prison setting and after release: A
Kerstin Geißelsöder1, Maren Weiss2, Klara Boksán1
1Chair of Psychological Assessment, Quantitative Methods and Forensic Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Abstract:
Aims: Opioid addiction is a common problem among prisoners. The aim of this study was to examine differences between people who are incarcerated receiving opioid substitution treatment (OST) and those not receiving OST on addiction-related outcome variables during incarceration and after release from prison. Variables covered illicit use of opioids, non-prescribed substitution medication and other substances, opioid withdrawal symptoms, opioid craving, non-fatal overdoses and post-release substitution treatment. Design: Interviews (European Addiction Severity Index, EuropASI) were conducted with 247 participants in German prisons before release. Participants were interviewed again 1 month and 3-6 months after release from prison. Results: During incarceration, participants who received OST used less illicit opioids and non-prescribed substitution medication than those who did not receive OST. After release from prison, participants in the OST group reported less illicit opioid use and less non-prescribed substitution medication use, as well as less opioid craving. Participants who received OST in prison were more likely to be in OST at post-release follow-up than those who had not received in-prison OST. Conclusion: OST appears to have a positive effect on illicit opioid use and craving both in prison and after release, as well as on treatment at follow-up, which can be considered a protective factor.
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