TY - JOUR
T1 - The Impact of Policy Changes on Heroin and Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use Among an Incarcerated Population in Kentucky, 2008 to 2016
AU - Bunting, Amanda M.
AU - Victor, Grant
AU - Pike, Erika
AU - Staton, Michele
AU - Winston, Erin
AU - Pangburn, Kevin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2019.
PY - 2020/6/1
Y1 - 2020/6/1
N2 - In response to the opioid epidemic, there have been several national- and state-level policies enacted. Consideration of how criminal justice–involved individuals are affected by such policies has received limited attention, despite disproportionately higher use among this population. Bivariate statistics examined yearly trends, and logistic regressions examined demographic correlates of nonmedical prescription opioid and heroin use among Kentucky inmates over an 8-year time span of important national and local policy changes (N = 34,542). Results indicate that among incarcerated individuals, prior use of heroin increased 204% from 2008 to 2016, with increases possibly linked to key policy changes associated with OxyContin reformulation and state implementation of a prescription drug monitoring program. The current incarcerated population had more severe use patterns when considering general population research. Consideration of criminal justice–involved populations is crucial to understanding and treating the opioid epidemic.
AB - In response to the opioid epidemic, there have been several national- and state-level policies enacted. Consideration of how criminal justice–involved individuals are affected by such policies has received limited attention, despite disproportionately higher use among this population. Bivariate statistics examined yearly trends, and logistic regressions examined demographic correlates of nonmedical prescription opioid and heroin use among Kentucky inmates over an 8-year time span of important national and local policy changes (N = 34,542). Results indicate that among incarcerated individuals, prior use of heroin increased 204% from 2008 to 2016, with increases possibly linked to key policy changes associated with OxyContin reformulation and state implementation of a prescription drug monitoring program. The current incarcerated population had more severe use patterns when considering general population research. Consideration of criminal justice–involved populations is crucial to understanding and treating the opioid epidemic.
KW - criminal justice
KW - heroin
KW - nonmedical prescription opioid
KW - opioids
KW - trend
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063884356&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1177/0887403419838029
DO - 10.1177/0887403419838029
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85063884356
SN - 0887-4034
VL - 31
SP - 746
EP - 762
JO - Criminal Justice Policy Review
JF - Criminal Justice Policy Review
IS - 5
ER -