JCOIN Study Finds that Providing MAT in Jails Improves Treatment Engagement, Reduces Overdose and Recidivism
- Addiction Policy Forum
- Sep 17
- 1 min read
In a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers with JCOIN’s Massachusetts Clinical Research Center found that providing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during incarceration can improve outcomes and save lives after release. The study shows that individuals who received MOUD in jail were more likely to engage in treatment and less likely to experience an overdose within six months of release.
The study evaluated the impact of a 2019 Massachusetts legislative mandate that required county jails to provide all three FDA-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone). Seven of thirteen jails implemented pilot programs, creating an opportunity to evaluate the public health impact of jail-based MOUD provision.
Researchers examined outcomes among 6,400 individuals with opioid use disorder who were incarcerated in Massachusetts county jails between September 2019 and December 2020. Of these, 42% received MOUD during incarceration. The study leveraged the Massachusetts Public Health Data Warehouse, which integrates more than 35 administrative datasets to track information on the use of addiction treatment and services, incarceration, mortality, and other public health indicators.
Key Findings:
Receiving MOUD during incarceration was associated with:
Higher treatment continuity after release
60% initiated treatment within 30 days post-release
58% remained on MOUD at 6 months
Lower overdose risks
52% lower risk of fatal opioid overdose
24% lower risk of non-fatal opioid overdose
56% lower risk of death from any cause
Reduced recidivism
12% lower risk of reincarceration after release
