NCT01874964

Brief Summary

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has been shown to be effective in reducing drug use, criminal activity and recidivism. Given this effectiveness, maintaining individuals who are enrolled in community MMT when committed to the Department of Corrections for short term incarceration would improve post release outcomes. However, this is rarely practiced in the United States. Current practice at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections is to detox inmates on methadone within 30 days of being incarcerated. More than 75% of these individuals are incarcerated for less than six months. The period immediately after release from incarceration is a particularly high-risk time for HIV and other problems including drug relapse and overdose. The investigators hypothesize that inmates who are incarcerated for 6 months or less will have better outcomes and cost the state less money if they are maintained on their methadone dose and relinked to their community clinic at release, than the current practice of detoxification.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
450

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2010

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 1, 2010

Completed
3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 1, 2013

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

June 5, 2013

Completed
6 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

June 11, 2013

Completed
11 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

May 1, 2014

Completed
Last Updated

June 11, 2013

Status Verified

December 1, 2010

Enrollment Period

3 years

First QC Date

June 5, 2013

Last Update Submit

June 7, 2013

Conditions

Keywords

HIV PreventionOpioid-Related DisordersMedication Assisted TreatmentMethadone

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

  • Time to post release treatment engagement

    Do individuals maintained on MMT during short term incarceration return to their community methadone clinic more rapidly than those who undergo methadone detoxification during short term incarceration? Individuals must return within 30 days of post release to be or be counted as not returning.

    30 days post release

  • Reduction of HIV risk behaviors

    To determine whether individuals maintained on MMT during short term incarceration report fewer HIV risk behaviors (both drug use and sexual) as compared to standard of care arm.

    12 months

  • Time to relapse

    To determine whether individuals maintained on MMT during short term incarceration report longer to relapse (or no relapse) to opiate use as compared to standard of care arm.

    30 days post release

  • Cost effectiveness

    To determine the costs, cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit associated with continuing methadone maintenance versus detoxification for jailed individuals. Variables to be assessed are: reincarceration, health care utilization (i.e. emergency room use, medications), subsidized housing,

    12 months

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Treatment retention

    12 months

  • Fatal and nonfatal overdose

    12 months

Study Arms (2)

Methadone Maintenance

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to Arm 1 will be maintained on ther pre-incarceration methadone dosage during short term incarceration (6 months or less) and will be actively transferred back to their community methadone clinic upon release from incarceration. Additionally, the study will pay for the cost of methadone maintenance treatment for 10 weeks after re-enrollment post release.

Behavioral: Methadone Maintenance

Methadone Detoxification

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Individuals assigned to Arm 2 will undergo methadone detoxification as is standard procedure at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. They will receive active assistance with returning to their home methadone clinic upon release from incarceration and 10 weeks financial assistance to pay for treatment.

Behavioral: Linkage to methadone maintenance

Interventions

Individuals who are enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment at the time of incarceration are maintained on pre-incarceration dosage levels of methadone during short-term (6 months or less)incarceration. They will be actively assisted to return to their home clinic upon release and receive 10 financial assistance with treatment payments.

Methadone Maintenance

Individuals in the comparison arm will undergo methadone detoxification during short term incarceration, however, they will be actively assisted to return to their home clinic upon release and receive 10 financial assistance with treatment payments.

Methadone Detoxification

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • currently incarcerated at the RI Department of Corrections
  • enrolled in a Rhode Island methadone treatment program at the time of incarceration
  • currently maintained at the pre-incarceration methadone dosage level
  • estimated total incarceration time of \< 6 months and \> 1 week
  • willing to be randomized and to conduct follow-up interviews for 12 months
  • English or Spanish-speaking
  • able to give informed consent
  • age 18 years or older
  • willing to remain on MMT and continue MMT after release.

You may not qualify if:

  • pregnancy (pregnant women are maintained on pre-incarceration levels of methadone throughout their pregnancy for their health and the health of the fetus by the RI DOC, so are NOT eligible to be randomized to Arm 2)

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Rhode Island Department of Corrections

Cranston, Rhode Island, 02920, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Rich JD, McKenzie M, Larney S, Wong JB, Tran L, Clarke J, Noska A, Reddy M, Zaller N. Methadone continuation versus forced withdrawal on incarceration in a combined US prison and jail: a randomised, open-label trial. Lancet. 2015 Jul 25;386(9991):350-9. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)62338-2. Epub 2015 May 28.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Opioid-Related Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Narcotic-Related DisordersSubstance-Related DisordersChemically-Induced DisordersMental Disorders

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

June 5, 2013

First Posted

June 11, 2013

Study Start

June 1, 2010

Primary Completion

June 1, 2013

Study Completion

May 1, 2014

Last Updated

June 11, 2013

Record last verified: 2010-12

Locations