Outcomes following two models of treatment linkage facilitation for women with a history of OUD following jail release

INTRODUCTION: The Kentucky hub of the NIDA-funded Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) examined implementation of a PreTreatment Telehealth model of assessment, both alone and in combination with Peer Navigation, to increase utilization of SUD treatment (including MOUD) among women with a history of OUD during community re-entry.

METHODS: Participants included women (N = 900) randomly selected, screened for OUD, consented, and randomized to two levels of intervention, as well as a comparison group of women in jail-based treatment. About 90 % of women who were released from jail were followed in the community 3 months post-release to assess treatment outcomes.

RESULTS: Findings indicated that almost half (44.2 %) of women entered SUD treatment during the 3 months post-release, and about one-fifth (22 %) entered MOUD treatment. In addition, days of substance use, including opioid use specifically, were significantly reduced among women who engaged with their Peer Navigator regularly in the community after jail release.

CONCLUSIONS: Study findings support the need for future research on treatment linkage facilitation for women that is not only tailored to their unique needs at re-entry, but also considers the systemic facilitating factors and barriers that may be associated with treatment utilization (including the limited use of MOUD during incarceration).