Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Correctional Settings: Evidence of Effectiveness and Best Practices for Implementation    

Research Corner: Emerging research in opioid recovery support systems 

In this research corner, we summarize two articles that, respectively discussed the effectiveness of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and best implementation practices for correctional settings. The first is a systematic review of the evidence on use of MOUD in correctional settings and its post-release outcomes. The second identified ten evidence-based best practices for opioid use disorder (OUD) in jails and described its availability in 185 jails across the U.S. Read the research corner.

Staff Acceptability of a Telemedicine Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Program in a Rural Detention Center

IRIS Pilot Project Findings

This IRIS-funded study assessed rural detention center staff acceptability of a telemedicine medication for opioid use disorder (tele-MOUD) program, perceptions of MOUD effectiveness, stigmatizing notions towards MOUD, and relationships between these variables. The term acceptability here refers to the extent that staff like, welcome, and approve of MOUD, and how much the treatment appeals to them. Findings showed a positive correlation between MOUD acceptability and staff perceptions of MOUD effectiveness, and a negative correlation between MOUD acceptability and MOUD stigma among staff. This indicates that participants were more likely to have a positive view of the tele-MOUD program if they perceived MOUD as an effective treatment, while they were more likely to have a negative view of the program if they held stigmatizing views of MOUD. Findings illustrate likely challenges to future efforts to expand this tele-MOUD program, and more broadly to expand MOUD treatment in correctional settings. Results also underscore the importance of staff education.

Now, New, and Upcoming 

Announcements from IRIS and the community 

Virtual Training

Changing the Narrative: Addressing Stigma, Racism, and Biases with the Peer Role

12/26/24 - 12/28/24

Peer Recovery Training and Support Services

This training will help peers to define, discover, and manage stigma, racism, and implicit biases while working in the peer role. Participants must attend all three days of the training. If you have taken the CCAR Recovery Coach Academy, then this training will give you all the remaining continuing education units (CEU’s) to meet the educational requirements needed to apply for the Maryland Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) exam. Register online.

Job Opening

Full-Time Research Assistant 

Mountain Manor Treatment Center (MMTC)

MMTC in Baltimore, MD is seeking a full-time research assistant. The ideal applicant has at least an undergraduate degree in a scientific field (e.g., psychology) and experience or interest in clinical research on substance use disorders (SUDs). The research assistant will work closely with staff research scientists and study coordinators primarily on a clinical trial exploring innovative approaches to improve treatment outcomes for individuals with opioid use disorder or cocaine use disorder. Learn more about this position. Interested applicants can reach out directly to Kevin Wenzel, PhD, Psychologist and Director of Research (kwenzel@marylandtreatment.org).

Publication

“The Peer to Career Pipeline: An Observational Study of Peer Worker Trainee Characteristics and Training Completion Likelihood

Chestnut Health Systems - Lighthouse Institute 

“Peer recovery support services (PRSS) for SUD are a flexible and evidence-based intervention employed across multiple settings and for a variety of populations. These services have expanded over the past two decades, but there is little research on recruitment and training of prospective peer workers - the peer to career pipeline. This study observed training outcomes for applicants to a peer worker scholarship program in Texas.” Read the publication.

Publication

“Emerging Models to Reach Forensic Populations” 

Xavier Justice, The Nehemiah Project & IRIS Recover Research Fellowship Alum

Preview from article: “Serving correctional populations is challenging. The theoretical and practical helping models for correctional populations do not develop and advance as rapidly as for non-institutionalized demographics. Some models are worth mentioning...” Read the full article online.

Publication

“What We Know About the Peer Workforce and Economic Evaluation for Peer Recovery Support Services: A Systematic Review”

Chestnut Health Systems - Lighthouse Institute

“This systematic review examines the current literature on PRSS to summarize what is currently known about the SUD peer workforce and collect potential PRSS economic evaluation parameters and clearly identify the current gaps in each category.” Read the publication.