Availability of best practices for opioid use disorder in jails and related training and resource needs: findings from a national interview study of jails in heavily impacted counties in the U.S.

Abstract Background Jails are optimal settings in which to screen individuals for opioid use disorders (OUD) and provide needed services, especially medications for OUD (MOUD). This study sought to assess the availability of OUD “best practices” in jails located in counties heavily impacted by opioi...

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Main Authors: Christy K. Scott, Christine E. Grella, Michael L. Dennis, John Carnevale, Robin LaVallee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-12-01
Series:Health & Justice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-022-00197-3
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author Christy K. Scott
Christine E. Grella
Michael L. Dennis
John Carnevale
Robin LaVallee
author_facet Christy K. Scott
Christine E. Grella
Michael L. Dennis
John Carnevale
Robin LaVallee
author_sort Christy K. Scott
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Jails are optimal settings in which to screen individuals for opioid use disorders (OUD) and provide needed services, especially medications for OUD (MOUD). This study sought to assess the availability of OUD “best practices” in jails located in counties heavily impacted by opioid overdose in the U.S. and their related training and resource needs. Counties were selected for study inclusion using two indicators of OUD severity: the absolute number and population rate of opioid overdose deaths. Structured interviews were completed with representatives from 185/244 (76%) of targeted counties and 185/250 (74%) of targeted jails in these counties. Ten OUD best practices were identified based on current treatment and practice guidelines. These include: screening for OUD; clinical assessment; medically managed withdrawal; MOUD administration; MOUD for pregnant people; counseling and wrap-around services; collaboration with community providers; assistance with Medicaid/insurance; re-entry services; and overdose prevention. Descriptive analyses examined the provision of any services and average percentage of services endorsed within best-practice categories, association of best-practice availability with community and jail characteristics, and related needs for training and resources. Results Over 70% of jail respondents indicated that some aspects of each of the ten OUD best practices were available within their jails, ranging from 71% using clinical assessment to 96% providing overdose prevention. However, there was considerable variability in the average percentage of items endorsed within each best-practice category, ranging from 38% of items regarding re-entry services to 88% of items regarding medically managed withdrawal. Availability of OUD best practices in jails also varied by community and jail characteristics. Jails reported the highest needs for funding for medication and clinical staff. Conclusions Policies are needed to address the identified gaps in availability of OUD best practices within jails. Training, technical assistance, and funding are needed to improve clinical capacity of jails to administer MOUD and to ensure continuity of care from jail to community, which are essential to reducing the risk of opioid-related overdose following release.
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spelling doaj.art-2c330a54736e46b9b8cc4529fd3a7dfa2022-12-25T12:08:14ZengBMCHealth & Justice2194-78992022-12-0110111510.1186/s40352-022-00197-3Availability of best practices for opioid use disorder in jails and related training and resource needs: findings from a national interview study of jails in heavily impacted counties in the U.S.Christy K. Scott0Christine E. Grella1Michael L. Dennis2John Carnevale3Robin LaVallee4Chestnut Health SystemsChestnut Health SystemsChestnut Health SystemsCarnevale Associates LLCCarnevale Associates LLCAbstract Background Jails are optimal settings in which to screen individuals for opioid use disorders (OUD) and provide needed services, especially medications for OUD (MOUD). This study sought to assess the availability of OUD “best practices” in jails located in counties heavily impacted by opioid overdose in the U.S. and their related training and resource needs. Counties were selected for study inclusion using two indicators of OUD severity: the absolute number and population rate of opioid overdose deaths. Structured interviews were completed with representatives from 185/244 (76%) of targeted counties and 185/250 (74%) of targeted jails in these counties. Ten OUD best practices were identified based on current treatment and practice guidelines. These include: screening for OUD; clinical assessment; medically managed withdrawal; MOUD administration; MOUD for pregnant people; counseling and wrap-around services; collaboration with community providers; assistance with Medicaid/insurance; re-entry services; and overdose prevention. Descriptive analyses examined the provision of any services and average percentage of services endorsed within best-practice categories, association of best-practice availability with community and jail characteristics, and related needs for training and resources. Results Over 70% of jail respondents indicated that some aspects of each of the ten OUD best practices were available within their jails, ranging from 71% using clinical assessment to 96% providing overdose prevention. However, there was considerable variability in the average percentage of items endorsed within each best-practice category, ranging from 38% of items regarding re-entry services to 88% of items regarding medically managed withdrawal. Availability of OUD best practices in jails also varied by community and jail characteristics. Jails reported the highest needs for funding for medication and clinical staff. Conclusions Policies are needed to address the identified gaps in availability of OUD best practices within jails. Training, technical assistance, and funding are needed to improve clinical capacity of jails to administer MOUD and to ensure continuity of care from jail to community, which are essential to reducing the risk of opioid-related overdose following release.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-022-00197-3JailOpioid use disorder (OUD)Opioid overdoseBest practicesMedication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)Re-entry services
spellingShingle Christy K. Scott
Christine E. Grella
Michael L. Dennis
John Carnevale
Robin LaVallee
Availability of best practices for opioid use disorder in jails and related training and resource needs: findings from a national interview study of jails in heavily impacted counties in the U.S.
Health & Justice
Jail
Opioid use disorder (OUD)
Opioid overdose
Best practices
Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)
Re-entry services
title Availability of best practices for opioid use disorder in jails and related training and resource needs: findings from a national interview study of jails in heavily impacted counties in the U.S.
title_full Availability of best practices for opioid use disorder in jails and related training and resource needs: findings from a national interview study of jails in heavily impacted counties in the U.S.
title_fullStr Availability of best practices for opioid use disorder in jails and related training and resource needs: findings from a national interview study of jails in heavily impacted counties in the U.S.
title_full_unstemmed Availability of best practices for opioid use disorder in jails and related training and resource needs: findings from a national interview study of jails in heavily impacted counties in the U.S.
title_short Availability of best practices for opioid use disorder in jails and related training and resource needs: findings from a national interview study of jails in heavily impacted counties in the U.S.
title_sort availability of best practices for opioid use disorder in jails and related training and resource needs findings from a national interview study of jails in heavily impacted counties in the u s
topic Jail
Opioid use disorder (OUD)
Opioid overdose
Best practices
Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)
Re-entry services
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-022-00197-3
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