The proposed study is a Type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial. Early adopters from the Maryland extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) initiative and additional counties who are willing to provide CAM2038, a new extended-release-buprenorphine (XR-B) formulation will participate in a randomized controlled trial conducted in 7 counties (10 jails) throughout the state of Maryland, in which 240 incarcerated men and women will be randomly assigned within gender within jail to one of two groups: Arm 1. XR-B (n=120). XR-B in jail followed by 6 monthly injections post-release at a community treatment program. Arm 2. XR-NTX (n=120). One injection of XR-NTX in jail, followed by 6 monthly injections post-release at a community treatment program.
Aim 1. To determine the effectiveness of XR-B compared to XR-NTX in terms of: Primary. (a) pharmacotherapy adherence (number of monthly injections received). Secondary. (b) illicit opioid urine test results; (c) self-reported illicit opioid use; (d) overdose events (non-fatal and fatal); (e) quality of life (i. physical health; ii. mental health); (f) HIV risk behaviors (i. sexual behavior; ii. needle use or sharing); and (g) criminal activity (i. crime days; ii. re-arrest; iii. re-incarceration).
Aim 2. To use a learning collaborative involving all 7 RCT county jurisdictions as well as 3 additional counties that selected not to participate in the randomized trial to understand factors related to: (a) acceptability of providing long-acting agonists and antagonists in jail settings; and (b) feasibility of providing medication continuity of care from jail to community treatment providers.
Aim 3. Calculate the cost to the correctional health system of implementing an XR-B or XR-NTX program, and determine the relative value of each strategy, including the costs associated with the subsequent interventions in the community, from a state- policymaker and societal perspective. The proposed study is innovative because it would be the first randomized clinical trial in the US assessing effectiveness of receiving XR-B vs. XR-NTX in county jails. The public health impact of the study will be highly significant and far-reaching because most individuals with OUD do not receive treatment while incarcerated, thereby substantially raising their likelihood of relapse to drug use, overdose death, HIV/AIDS infection, and re-incarceration. Finally, understanding how to expand acceptance of medications for opioid use disorder in jails, particularly long-acting medications, has far-reaching implications for treatment expansion in this population.
The proposed study is significant because the large number of individuals under criminal justice supervision with Opioid Use Disorders (OUDs) have limited access to pharmacotherapy treatment, an intervention found to reduce substance use, HIV-risk behavior, and criminal activity. The proposed study is innovative because it would be the first RCT in the US assessing the effectiveness of CAM2038, an extended-release buprenorphine (XR-B) formulation versus extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) with jail inmates prior to release. The public health impact of the proposed study would be widespread, as findings from the implementation learning collaborative could facilitate the implementation of long-acting opioid medications with jail populations, enabling this treatment to be scaled-up throughout many areas of the US with high rates of OUD. In addition, the findings from this study will be a valuable addition to the literature, as there is no evidence regarding the economic value of XR-B and limited evidence regarding the economic value of XR-NTX for opioid use disorder with a jail population.
