This proposed five-year study will evaluate the effectiveness of the administration of buprenorphine bridge treatment (BBT) to probationers and parolees compared to treatment as usual (TAU), which consists of referral to a community buprenorphine treatment program. Project implementation will occur at Guilford Avenue, the primary intake unit for Baltimore City Community Supervision (Probation and Parole). The proposed study is a parallel two-group randomized controlled trial in which 160 men and 160 women with OUD on community supervision in Baltimore will be randomly assigned within community supervision status (probation or parole) and gender to one of two treatment conditions: (1) Buprenorphine Bridge Treatment (BBT): Participants will begin buprenorphine pharmacotherapy using the MedicaSafe buprenorphine dispensing device immediately after an on-site intake at a community supervision office and continue such treatment until they are transitioned to community buprenorphine treatment; or (2) Treatment as Usual (TAU): Participants will receive a referral to buprenorphine treatment in the community. Both conditions will receive information on overdose prevention. Participants will be assessed at baseline, and 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months post-intake using a comprehensive assessment battery. The Primary Aim: To compare the relative effectiveness of BBT to TAU in terms of: (a) illicit opioid urine test results. The Secondary Aim: To examine the extent to which BBT is superior to TAU in terms of: (b) number of days receiving opioid treatment; (c) number of days using illicit opioids; (d) quality of life (i. physical health; ii. mental health); (e) HIV risk behaviors (i. sexual behavior; ii. needle use or sharing); (f) criminal activity; (g) re-arrest; and (h) re-incarceration. The proposed study is significant because the large number of probationers/parolees with OUD have limited access to an efficacious treatment, buprenorphine pharmacotherapy. The proposed study is innovative because it would be the first trial in the US assessing the effectiveness of interim buprenorphine initiated at a community supervision office compared to referral to a community treatment program. The public health impact would be widespread, as this model of care could be scaled-up throughout many areas of the US with criminal justice populations with high rates of OUD.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed study is significant because the large number of probationers and parolees with opioid use disorder have limited access to buprenorphine treatment, an intervention found to reduce drug use, HIV risk behavior, and criminal activity. The proposed study is innovative because it would be the first RCT in the United States assessing the effectiveness of buprenorphine treatment using MedicaSafe initiated at a community corrections office compared to referral to a community program. The public health impact of the proposed study would be widespread, as this model of care could be implemented throughout many areas of the United States with high rates of opioid use disorder in their probation/parolee populations that lack access to methadone treatment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA043476-02
Application #
9741111
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Mulford, Carrie Fried
Project Start
2018-07-15
Project End
2023-04-30
Budget Start
2019-05-01
Budget End
2020-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Friends Research Institute, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
010095032
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21201