A qualitative study of reasons for seeking and ceasing opioid substitution treatment in prisons in New South Wales, Australia

Stogner

Drug and Alcohol Review

et al. 2017

Introduction and Aims. Acetyl fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue emerging onto the recreational drug scene, has been responsible for numerous recent fatal overdoses in the USA, Europe and Russia. Studies reporting acetyl fentanyl use are presently limited to case studies and mortality reports. This study explores the nature of acetyl fentanyl use through the collection of first-hand qualitative data from users to inform public health and drug control policy responses. Design and Methods. A series of focus group interviews within a correctional setting-Delaware County (Ohio) Jail, USA. Participants were 102 individuals in one of two US Bureau of Justice Assistance Second Chance Act substance use treatment initiatives participating in at least one focus group session. Five of these individuals reported acetyl fentanyl use. Semi-structured qualitative focus group sessions queried subjects' drugs of choice and nature of drug use. Responses were explored through follow-up organic discourse. Results. Acetyl fentanyl users were generally unaware that they had administered the substance until after use (initially believing that they were administering heroin). They described the effects of acetyl fentanyl as stronger and qualitatively different from heroin. These individuals showed no interest in using acetyl fentanyl again describing it as unpleasant and more risky, both because of potency and the threat of a 'bad batch'. Discussion and Conclusions. Acetyl fentanyl is reaching heroin users, some of which administer it unknowingly. Regulation of acetyl fentanyl is recommended in all countries as is increasing public awareness that the substance is distinct from and being sold as heroin. [Miller JM, Stogner JM, Miller BL, Blough S. Exploring synthetic heroin: Accounts of acetyl fentanyl use from a sample of dually diagnosed drug offenders. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;00:000-000]

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Exploring synthetic heroin: Accounts of acetyl fentanyl use from a sample of dually diagnosed drug offenders

Stogner

Drug and Alcohol Review

et al. 2017

“…Despite the effectiveness of OMT and its availability in many countries, it is utilized only by half of people with opioid dependence in Europe . There are opioid‐dependent adults who prefer not to receive OMT with opioid agonist medications, and may consider opioid antagonist treatment an alternative .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness, safety and feasibility of extended‐release naltrexone for opioid dependence: a 9‐month follow‐up to a 3‐month randomized trial

et al. 2018

“…For instance, over half of the inmates in state prisons in the USA reported experiencing symptoms that are consistent with a diagnosis of substance or drug misuse or dependence [ 3 ]. Once inmates are released from prison they are often likely to continue their involvement in drug use in the absence of support, and those who do are more likely to be re-arrested following release from prison than non-drug misusing peers [ 4 , 5 ]. Community oriented interventions that break this cycle and treat substance use disorders would lead to lower incidences of reoffending, re-arrest, re-incarceration, and drug misuse [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A variety of TCI are in use with prison populations [ 5 , 10 ]. They share the qualities that use a group based approach to rehabilitation, in which peers support and influence each other to develop pro-social behaviour and to work towards substance misuse recovery [ 5 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Therapeutic Community Treatment of an Inmate Population with Substance Use Disorders: Post-Release Trends in Re-Arrest, Re-Incarceration, and Drug Misuse Relapse

Galassi

Mpofu

Athanasou

2015

IJERPH

This systematic literature review maps the evidence for the effectiveness of the therapeutic community interventions (TCI) in reducing re-arrest, re-incarceration or drug misuse following release from prison, including the extent to which these effects are retained over time. The databases searched for the review included PsychINFO, Medline and Scopus and reference lists from relevant articles published between 2007 and 2014. Only quantitative studies that examined the effectiveness of TCI for a prisoner population with drug dependence at the time of initial incarceration were considered. Fourteen studies were identified for inclusion in the review. Three-quarters of the studies reported TCI were effective in reducing rates of re-incarceration. About 70% of studies that examined follow-up rates of drug misuse relapse found TCI effective in reducing rates of drug misuse amongst participants. TCI participation reduced re-arrests events in 55% of the studies. Results suggest TCI effective in the short-term rather than longer term for reducing rates of re-incarceration among participants, and to a slightly lesser extent, drug misuse relapse.