A study involving 6,400 patients with probable opioid use disorder released from 7 Massachusetts county jails from 2019 to 2020 revealed that receiving medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during incarceration significantly reduced the risk of death, overdose, and reincarceration. The study highlighted that buprenorphine was the prevalent MOUD, and a larger proportion of inmates receiving MOUD initiated community treatment post-release. Disparities were noted in treatment access among Black and Hispanic populations, indicating a need for equitable MOUD delivery in jails. The study's findings point to the potential for jails to serve as intervention points to tackle opioid-related mortality and recidivism.

Source: NEJM