MedPage Today (9/12, Firth) reported a study found that “use of medication for opioid use disorder (OUD) in jail was strongly associated with lower risks for overdose, death, and re-incarceration after release into the community.” Researchers observed that “among 6,400 individuals with probable OUD, those who opted to take medication for it had a 52% lower risk of fatal overdose after release and a 56% lower risk for death from any cause compared with those who went untreated.” Furthermore, “receiving medication while in jail was also associated with a 24% lower risk of nonfatal overdose and a 12% lower risk of re-incarceration.” Researchers also observed that “within 30 days of release, medication recipients were more likely to receive treatment for OUD compared to individuals who did not receive treatment (60.2% vs 17.6%). At 6 months after release, 58% of those who started in jail were still receiving treatment.” The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)