Reducing Overdose After Release From Incarceration

ROAR examines implementation of a novel overdose prevention strategy for justice-involved women as they re-enter community treatment settings after incarceration. The ODOC pilot project offers initiation of opioid antagonist treatment prior to release (extended-release naltrexone [XR-NTX]), ongoing support from a Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM), and facilitated entry into community treatment for substance use disorders. Community treatment may include continuation of XR-NTX,or transition to agonist therapy including buprenorphine or methadone, or no medication for opioid use disorder.

Inclusion criteria

• Be a woman (including transgender and non-binary adults assigned to women's housing at CCCF)
• 18 years of age or older with a known release date during the 18-month recruitment period
• Be released to Marion, Multnomah, Clackamas or Washington County, Oregon
• Be willing and able to provide informed consent and HIPAA authorization for medical record abstraction and linkage to state administrative data
• Meet DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) criteria for moderate or severe opioid use disorder
• Be willing to establish ongoing care at the community SUD (substance use disorder) treatment site in county of release
• Be willing to initiate XR-NTX prior to release from incarceration
• Not be currently pregnant and must be willing to take at least one evidence-based measure to avoid becoming pregnant during treatment with XR-NTX

Exclusion criteria

A participant will be excluded if she

• Has a severe medical, psychiatric, or substance use disorder that, in the opinion of the CCCF Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)or study physician, would make study participation hazardous to the participant, compromise study findings, or prevent the participant from completing the study due to imminent risk of death
• Has another medical condition leading XR-NTX to be contraindicated
• Has chronic pain requiring ongoing pain management with opioid analgesics
• Received methadone or buprenorphine maintenance therapy in the 4 weeks prior to consent
• Has a planned surgery or other procedure within the next 4 weeks that will require opioid analgesia