Abstract
Background: Entry into methadone maintenance is associated with a reduction in criminal activity; less is known about the effects of office-based buprenorphine. Objective: To compare criminal charges before and after enrollment in methadone maintenance or office-based buprenorphine. Methods: Subjects were opioid-dependent adults who initiated either methadone maintenance (n = 252) or office-based buprenorphine (n = 252) between 2003 and 2007. Medical records were reviewed to gather demographic data and a state-maintained web-based database to collect data on criminal charges. Overall charges and drug charges in the 2 years prior to and after treatment enrollment were compared. Multivariable analysis was used to examine risk factors for charges after treatment enrollment. Results: In the 2 years after enrolling in treatment, subjects receiving methadone had a significant decline in the proportion of subjects with any charges (49.6% vs. 32.5%, p
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 803-811 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Substance Use and Misuse |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 6 2016 |
Keywords
- buprenorphine
- Crime
- methadone
- opioid agonist treatment
- opioid-related disorders
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Health(social science)
- Medicine (miscellaneous)