Jail-based interventions to reduce risk for opioid-related overdose deaths: Examples of implementation within Ohio counties participating in the HEALing Communities Study

Abstract Background Opioid-related overdose is a leading cause of death for criminal legal-involved individuals and, although naloxone distribution and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are effective means for reducing post-release overdose death risk, jail-based availability is limited. Th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Joel Sprunger, Jennifer Brown, Sofia Rubi, Joan Papp, Michael Lyons, T. John Winhusen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Health & Justice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-024-00307-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850136568953569280
author Joel Sprunger
Jennifer Brown
Sofia Rubi
Joan Papp
Michael Lyons
T. John Winhusen
author_facet Joel Sprunger
Jennifer Brown
Sofia Rubi
Joan Papp
Michael Lyons
T. John Winhusen
author_sort Joel Sprunger
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Opioid-related overdose is a leading cause of death for criminal legal-involved individuals and, although naloxone distribution and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are effective means for reducing post-release overdose death risk, jail-based availability is limited. This case report describes the challenges faced by three Ohio communities as they implemented evidence-based practices (EBPs) in jails to combat post-release opioid overdose deaths. Method We present case examples of how barriers were overcome to implement jail-based EBPs in three Ohio communities (two urban and one rural) as part of the HEALing Communities Study (UM1DA049417; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04111939). Of the 18 participating Ohio HEALing Communities Study counties, we highlight 3 communities for the novelty of their EBPs implemented, the challenges that they faced, and their rural/urban status. We present descriptive data regarding the EBPs that they implemented and discuss the challenges identified by HEALing Communities Study staff with first-hand experience facilitating their implementation. Results Newly implemented interventions included overdose education and direct provision of naloxone to incarcerated individuals upon release (2 of 3 communities), initiating MOUD prior to release (3 of 3), linkage to ongoing MOUD treatment in the community (2 of 3), peer support-facilitated treatment retention efforts (2 of 3) and emergency housing (1 of 3) in the immediate post-incarceration period. Common challenges that emerged included skepticism about the need and feasibility of implementing EBPs to reduce overdose and death, lack of knowledge about the options available and whether external agencies may assist, and difficulty engaging stakeholders to overcome inertia. Conclusions Creative flexibility, calm persistence, technical facilitation, and collaboration with community service providers were assets that helped these Ohio jails implement evidence-based strategies that combat the opioid epidemic and reduce the likelihood of post-incarceration overdose and death in a high risk, formerly incarcerated population.
format Article
id doaj-art-bb0bbd5382fc4717a35f7c665430de77
institution OA Journals
issn 2194-7899
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Health & Justice
spelling doaj-art-bb0bbd5382fc4717a35f7c665430de772025-08-20T02:31:04ZengBMCHealth & Justice2194-78992024-12-0112111010.1186/s40352-024-00307-3Jail-based interventions to reduce risk for opioid-related overdose deaths: Examples of implementation within Ohio counties participating in the HEALing Communities StudyJoel Sprunger0Jennifer Brown1Sofia Rubi2Joan Papp3Michael Lyons4T. John Winhusen5Addiction Sciences Division, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University West Lafayette Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University West Lafayette Department of Emergency Medicine, MetroHealth Department of Emergency Medicine, The Ohio State UniversityAddiction Sciences Division, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of MedicineAbstract Background Opioid-related overdose is a leading cause of death for criminal legal-involved individuals and, although naloxone distribution and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are effective means for reducing post-release overdose death risk, jail-based availability is limited. This case report describes the challenges faced by three Ohio communities as they implemented evidence-based practices (EBPs) in jails to combat post-release opioid overdose deaths. Method We present case examples of how barriers were overcome to implement jail-based EBPs in three Ohio communities (two urban and one rural) as part of the HEALing Communities Study (UM1DA049417; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04111939). Of the 18 participating Ohio HEALing Communities Study counties, we highlight 3 communities for the novelty of their EBPs implemented, the challenges that they faced, and their rural/urban status. We present descriptive data regarding the EBPs that they implemented and discuss the challenges identified by HEALing Communities Study staff with first-hand experience facilitating their implementation. Results Newly implemented interventions included overdose education and direct provision of naloxone to incarcerated individuals upon release (2 of 3 communities), initiating MOUD prior to release (3 of 3), linkage to ongoing MOUD treatment in the community (2 of 3), peer support-facilitated treatment retention efforts (2 of 3) and emergency housing (1 of 3) in the immediate post-incarceration period. Common challenges that emerged included skepticism about the need and feasibility of implementing EBPs to reduce overdose and death, lack of knowledge about the options available and whether external agencies may assist, and difficulty engaging stakeholders to overcome inertia. Conclusions Creative flexibility, calm persistence, technical facilitation, and collaboration with community service providers were assets that helped these Ohio jails implement evidence-based strategies that combat the opioid epidemic and reduce the likelihood of post-incarceration overdose and death in a high risk, formerly incarcerated population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-024-00307-3JailOverdoseOpioid use disorderNaloxoneBuprenorphineNaltrexone
spellingShingle Joel Sprunger
Jennifer Brown
Sofia Rubi
Joan Papp
Michael Lyons
T. John Winhusen
Jail-based interventions to reduce risk for opioid-related overdose deaths: Examples of implementation within Ohio counties participating in the HEALing Communities Study
Health & Justice
Jail
Overdose
Opioid use disorder
Naloxone
Buprenorphine
Naltrexone
title Jail-based interventions to reduce risk for opioid-related overdose deaths: Examples of implementation within Ohio counties participating in the HEALing Communities Study
title_full Jail-based interventions to reduce risk for opioid-related overdose deaths: Examples of implementation within Ohio counties participating in the HEALing Communities Study
title_fullStr Jail-based interventions to reduce risk for opioid-related overdose deaths: Examples of implementation within Ohio counties participating in the HEALing Communities Study
title_full_unstemmed Jail-based interventions to reduce risk for opioid-related overdose deaths: Examples of implementation within Ohio counties participating in the HEALing Communities Study
title_short Jail-based interventions to reduce risk for opioid-related overdose deaths: Examples of implementation within Ohio counties participating in the HEALing Communities Study
title_sort jail based interventions to reduce risk for opioid related overdose deaths examples of implementation within ohio counties participating in the healing communities study
topic Jail
Overdose
Opioid use disorder
Naloxone
Buprenorphine
Naltrexone
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-024-00307-3
work_keys_str_mv AT joelsprunger jailbasedinterventionstoreduceriskforopioidrelatedoverdosedeathsexamplesofimplementationwithinohiocountiesparticipatinginthehealingcommunitiesstudy
AT jenniferbrown jailbasedinterventionstoreduceriskforopioidrelatedoverdosedeathsexamplesofimplementationwithinohiocountiesparticipatinginthehealingcommunitiesstudy
AT sofiarubi jailbasedinterventionstoreduceriskforopioidrelatedoverdosedeathsexamplesofimplementationwithinohiocountiesparticipatinginthehealingcommunitiesstudy
AT joanpapp jailbasedinterventionstoreduceriskforopioidrelatedoverdosedeathsexamplesofimplementationwithinohiocountiesparticipatinginthehealingcommunitiesstudy
AT michaellyons jailbasedinterventionstoreduceriskforopioidrelatedoverdosedeathsexamplesofimplementationwithinohiocountiesparticipatinginthehealingcommunitiesstudy
AT tjohnwinhusen jailbasedinterventionstoreduceriskforopioidrelatedoverdosedeathsexamplesofimplementationwithinohiocountiesparticipatinginthehealingcommunitiesstudy