Table 1. Characteristics of included studies, 2008–2019.
| Source | Study location | N | Design (period) | Setting | Characteristics of study population | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | Age (years)* | Sex | Ethnicity (%) | Addiction criteria | |||||
| Green et al., 2018 [26] | RI, US | 35 | Cohort (2016–2017) | Prison | Individuals with recent incarceration (less than 12 months) who died from overdose | Deaths recorded in 2016: 18–29 y (30.8%), 30–39 y (34.6%), 40–49 y (23.1%), ≥50 y (11.5%); deaths recorded in 2017: 18–29 y (22.2%), 30–39 y (44.4%), 40–49 y (33.3%), ≥50 y (—) | Deaths recorded in 2016: male, 92.3%; female, 7.7%; deaths recorded in 2017: male, 77.8%; female, 22.2% | Deaths recorded in 2016: white, 96.2%; other, 3.8%; deaths recorded in 2017: white, 88.9%; other, 11.1% | Death recorded among individuals who received OAT in prison |
| Degenhardt et al., 2014 [35] | Australia | 16,453 | Cohort (2000–2012) administrative data | Prison | Incarcerated heroin users from prisons in New South Wales | Age at first criminal charge: 23 y (10–64) | Male, 78.7%; female, 21.3% | Indigenous, 29.9% | Incarcerated persons who received MMT/BPN prior incarceration |
| Larney et al., 2014 [36] | Australia | 16,715 | Cohort (2000–2012) administrative data | Prison | Incarcerated heroin users from prisons in New South Wales | Age at first entry into prison: 30 y (16–64) | Male, 78.9%; female, 21.1% | Indigenous, 29.9% | Incarcerated persons who received MMT/BPN prior incarceration |
| Gordon et al., 2014 [37] | MD, US | 211 | RCT (2008–2012) | Prison | Incarcerated persons in pre-release prison | 39.1 y ± 8.8 | Male, 70.1%; female, 29.9% | African-American, 70.1%; white, 25.6%; other, 4.3% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Gordon et al., 2012 [38] | MD, US | 211 | RCT (2003–2005) | Prison | Men incarcerated at a Baltimore pre-release facility | 35–45 y | 100% male | Majority African-Americans, >60% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Gordon et al., 2008 [39] | MD, US | 201 | RCT (2003–2005) | Prison | Men incarcerated at a Baltimore pre-release facility | 35–45 y | 100% male | Majority African-Americans, >60% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Gordon et al., 2017 [40] | MD, US | 211 | RCT (2008–2012) | Prison | Incarcerated persons in pre-release prison | 39.1 y ± 8.8 | Male, 70.1%; female, 29.9% | African-American, 70.1%; white, 25.6%; other, 4.3% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Gordon et al., 2015 [41] | MD, US | 27 | Clinical trial (2012–2014) | Prison | Incarcerated persons eligible for release within 30 days from screening | 39.9 y ± 8.3 | Male, 59.3%; female, 40.7% | African-American, 85.2%; white, 14.8%; other, 8.3% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Gordon et al., 2018 [42] | MD, US | 199 | RCT (2008–2012) | Prison | Incarcerated persons in pre-release prison | 39.4 y ± 8.5 | Male, 70.9%; female, 29.1% | African-American, 69.8%; white, 25.6%; other, 4.5% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Kinlock et al., 2008 [43] | MD, US | 197 | RCT (2003–2005) | Prison | Men incarcerated at a Baltimore pre-release facility | Counseling only, 40.8 y ± 7.7; counseling + transfer to MMT post-release, 40.3 y ± 7.0; counseling + MMT in prison and transfer, 39.8 y ± 7.1 | 100% male | Counseling only: African-American, 65.1%; white, 31.7%; other, 3.2%; counseling + transfer to MMT post-release: African-American, 72.7%; white, 19.7%; other, 7.6%; counseling + MMT in prison and transfer: African-American, 70.6%; white, 20.6%; other, 8.8% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Kinlock et al., 2009 [44] | MD, US | 204 | RCT (2003–2005) | Prison | Men incarcerated at a Baltimore pre-release facility | 40.3 y ± 7.1 | 100% male | African-American, 69.6%; white, 24.0%; other, 6.4% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Kinlock et al., 2013 [45] | MD, US | 67 | RCT (2003–2005) | Prison | Men incarcerated at a Baltimore pre-release facility who received MMT in prison | 39.8 y ± 7.1 | 100% male | African-American, 70.6%; white, 20.6%; other, 8.8% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| McKenzie et al., 2012 [46] | RI, US | 62 | RCT (2006–2009) | Prison and jail | Incarcerated persons from RIDOC | 40.7 y (22–58) | Male, 70.9%; female, 29.1% | Hispanic/Latino, 21.0%; other, 79.0% | Self-reported heroin injection or enrolled in MMT in the month preceding incarceration |
| Zaller et al., 2013 [47] | RI, US | 44 | Clinical trial (2006–2009) | Prison and jail | Incarcerated persons from RIDOC | 37.3 y ± 7.3 | Male, 84.1%; female, 15.9% | Hispanic/Latino, 29.5%; black/African-American, 2.2%; white, 68.1% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Lee et al., 2016 [48] | MD, NY, PA, RI, US | 308 | RCT (2009–2013) | Prison and jail | Participants with OUD with recent incarceration (less than 12 months) | XR-NTX, 44.4 y ± 9.2; TAU, 43.2 y ± 9.4 | XR-NTX: male, 84.3%; female, 15.7%; TAU: male, 85.2%; female, 14.8% | XR-NTX: white, 20.4%; black, 53.3%; Hispanic, 24.3%; TAU: white, 19.4%; black, 47.7%; Hispanic, 29.0% | Clinical diagnosis of OUD |
| Friedmann et al., 2018 [49] | RI, US | 15 | RCT (2012–2014) | Prison | Incarcerated persons scheduled to be released within 1–2 months | Pre-release XR-NTX group, 38.9 y; post-release XR-NTX group, 33.6 y | Pre-release XR-NTX group: male, 88.9%; female, 11.1%; post-release XR-NTX group: 100% male | NA | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Soares et al., 2018 [50] | MD, NY, PA, RI, US | 297 | RCT (2009–2013) | Prison and jail | Participants with OUD with recent incarceration (less than 12 months) | NA | XR-NTX: male, 84.3%; female, 15.7%; TAU: male, 85.2%; female, 14.8% | XR-NTX: white, 50.5%; TAU: white, 19.6% | Clinical diagnosis of OUD |
| Larney et al., 2012 [51] | Australia | 375 | Cohort (1997–2006) | Prison | Male heroin users from prisons in New South Wales | 26 y (18–46) | 100% male | Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander: 24% | Self-reported heroin use/abuse |
| Farrell-MacDonald et al., 2014 [52] | Canada | 137 | Cohort (2003–2008) | Prison | Incarcerated persons with problematic opioid use | MMT in prison but discontinued post-release, 35.4 y ± 8.0; MMT in prison and continued post-release, 33.0 y ± 7.2; non-MMT treated, 31.3 y ± 7.4 | 100% female | MMT discontinued post-release and Aboriginal ancestry, 22.0%; MMT continued post-release and Aboriginal ancestry, 40.0%; non-MMT treated and Aboriginal ancestry, 38.0% | MMT prior to incarceration |
| Larney et al., 2016 [53] | Australia | 8,577 | Cohort (2007–2013) administrative data | Prison | Incarcerated heroin users from prisons in New South Wales | Age at first recorded OST: 32 y (26–38) | Male, 81.0%; female, 19.0% | Indigenous, 14.5% | Incarcerated persons who received MMT/BPN prior incarceration |
| Bird et al., 2015 [54] | Scotland | 131,427 | Cohort (1996–2007) administrative data | Prison | Incarcerated persons released between 1996 and 2007 | NA | Male, 93%; female, 7% | NA | NA |
| Lincoln et al., 2018 [55] | MA, US | 67 | Cohort (2013–2014) | Jail | Incarcerated persons scheduled to be released | XR-NTX (prior to release), 32.9 y (22–60); XR-NTX planned after release, 34.6 y (21–54) | XR-NTX, prior to release: male, 89.4%; female, 10.6%; XR-NTX planned after release: male, 90.0%; female, 10.0% | XR-NTX, prior to release: black/African-American, 6.4%; Hispanic/Latino, 25.5%; white, 68.1%; XR-NTX planned after release: black/African-American, 0%; Hispanic/Latino, 40.0%; white, 60.0% | Clinical diagnosis of OUD + urine test |
| Sheard et al., 2009 [56] | England | 90 | RCT (2004–2005) | Prison | Incarcerated persons from Her Majesty’s Prison Leeds | 29.8 y (19–53) | 100% male | NA | History of opiate use, confirmed by urine test |
| Magura et al., 2009 [57] | NY, US | 116 | RCT (2006–2007) | Jail | Heroin-dependent men not enrolled in community methadone treatment and sentenced to 10–90 days in jail | MMT group, 40.7 y ± 9.1; BPN group, 38.4 y ± 7.9 | 100% male | MMT group: black, 25%; Hispanic, 65%; BPN group: black, 25%; Hispanic, 62% | Clinical diagnosis of opioid dependence |
| Awgu et al., 2010 [58] | NY, US | 114 | RCT (2006–2007) | Jail | Heroin-dependent men not enrolled in community methadone treatment and sentenced to less than 1 year in jail | MMT group, 40.8 y ± 9.2; BPN group, 38.4 y ± 7.9 | 100% male | MMT group: black, 25%; Hispanic, 65%; BPN group: black, 26%; Hispanic, 61% | Clinical diagnosis of opioid dependence |
| Wright et al., 2011 [59] | England | 289 | RCT (2006–2008) | Prison | Population from 3 prison healthcare departments | 30.8 y (26.9–34.9) | NA | Methadone: white British, 89.9%; Asian, 2.7%; black, 4.1%; mixed race, 0.7%; white other, 2.7%; BPN: white British, 93.6%; Asian, 2.8%; black, 0.7%; mixed race, 0.7%; white other, 0.7% | History of opiate use, confirmed by urine test |
| Rich et al., 2015 [60] | RI, US | 283 | RCT (2011–2013) | Prison and jail | Incarcerated persons at RIDOC enrolled in MMT at the time of incarceration | 34 y ± 8.4 | Male, 78%; female, 22% | White, 81%; black, 4%; other, 15% | Opioid users under MMT at incarceration |
| Brinkley-Rubinstein et al., 2018 [61] | RI, US | 179 | RCT (2011–2013) | Prison and jail | Incarcerated persons at RIDOC enrolled in MMT at the time of incarceration | 32.6 y (28.4–40.9) | Male, 78.2%; female, 21.8% | White, 78.8%; black, 4.5%; other, 16.8% | Opioid users under MMT at incarceration |
| Moore et al., 2018 [62] | CT, US | 382 | Clinical trial (2013–2015) | Prison and jail | Incarcerated persons who received MMT 5 days prior to incarceration | MMT in prison, 36.2 y ± 9.6; forced withdrawal, 37.0 y ± 9.1 | 100% male | MMT in prison: white, 78.8%; black, 9.8%; Hispanic, 11.4%; forced withdrawal: white, 76.8%; black, 9.1%; Hispanic, 13.6%; Native American, 0.5% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| McMillan et al., 2008 [63] | US | 589 | Cohort (2005–2006) | Jail | Incarcerated persons released between 11/2005 and 10/2006 | Jail-based MMT, 38.5 y ± 10.0; no MMT, 37.7 y ± 9.9 | Jail-based MMT: 71.5% male; no MMT: 67.5% male | Jail-based MMT: Hispanic, 78.0%; non-Hispanic white, 20.9%; Native American, 1.0%; no MMT: Hispanic, 80.4%; non-Hispanic white, 16.8%; Native American, 2.8% | Incarcerated persons who reported MMT prior to incarceration |
| Marzo et al., 2009 [64] | France | 507 | Cohort (2003–2006) | Prison | Opioid-dependent patients included within the first week of imprisonment | 30.8 y ± 6.4 | Male, 96.3%; female, 3.7% | NA | Clinical evaluation and self-report |
| Wickersham et al., 2013 [65] | Malaysia | 27 | Cohort (2009–2010) | Prison | HIV-positive incarcerated persons (up to 4 months pre-release) | 37.1 y ± 7.1 | 100% male | Malay, 73.3%; Indian, 20.0%; Chinese, 6.7% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Wickersham et al., 2013 [66] | Malaysia | 72 | Cohort (2008–2009) | Prison | Incarcerated persons receiving MMT and scheduled for release | Prison Pengkalan Chepa, 33.7 y ± 6.7; Prison Kajang, 37.1 y ± 7.0 | 100% male | Prison Pengkalan Chepa: Malay, 95.2%; Indian, 4.8%; Prison Kajang: Malay, 73.3%; Indian, 20.0%; Chinese, 6.7% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Westerberg et al., 2016 [67] | NM, US | 960 | Cohort (2011–2013) | Jail | Incarcerated persons released between July and December 2011 | NA | Male, 73.8%; female, 26.2% | African-American, 6.0%; Hispanic, 49.7%; Native American, 15.0%; white, 25.6%; unknown/other, 3.7% | MMT previous incarceration |
| Marsden et al., 2017 [68] | England | 12,260 | Cohort (2010–2013) administrative data | Prison | Incarcerated persons scheduled to be released | OAT in prison, 34.6 y ± 7.1; no OAT in prison, 34.6 y ± 8.0 | OAT in prison: Male, 75.9%; female, 24.1%; no OAT in prison: male, 80.7%; female, 19.3% | NA | Clinical diagnosis of OUD |
| Huang et al., 2011 [69] | Taiwan | 4,357 | Cohort (2007–2008) administrative data | Prison | Incarcerated persons released on 16 July 2007 | Male, 38 y (20–74); female, 31 y (21–58) | Male, 88%; female, 12% | NA | Self-reported history of heroin injection |
| Lee et al., 2012 [70] | NY, US | 140 | Cohort (2006–2008) | Jail | Post-release patients from NYC Department of Correction | Jail referrals, 41 y (21–52); community referrals, 42 y (25–67) | Jail referrals: male, 97%; female, 3%; community referrals: male, 78%; female, 22% | Jail referrals: African-American, 19%; Hispanic, 66%; non-Hispanic white, 15%; community referrals: African-American, 13%; Hispanic, 34%; non-Hispanic white, 53% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Macswain et al., 2014 [71] | Canada | 856 | Cohort (2006–2008) | Prison | Incarcerated persons with problematic opioid use | MMT in prison but discontinued post-release, 34.3 y ± 8.1; MMT in prison and continued post-release, 35.3 y ± 8.6; non-MMT treated, 34.6 y ± 8.3 | 100% male | MMT discontinued post-release and Aboriginal ancestry, 15.0%; MMT continued post-release and Aboriginal ancestry, 16.8%; non-MMT treated and Aboriginal ancestry, 15.4% | MMT prior to incarceration |
| Fox et al., 2014 [72] | NY, US | 135 | Cohort (2009–2013) | Prison | Incarcerated persons recently released from prison (≤90 days before initial visit) | 42.1 y ± 10.5 | Male, 97.0%; female, 3.0% | Hispanic, 50.4%; non-Hispanic black, 42.2%; non-Hispanic other, 7.4% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Riggins et al., 2017 [73] | NY, US | 306 | Cohort (NA) | Prison and jail | HIV-positive patients who were recently incarcerated (last 30 days) | 44.6 y ± 8.5 | Male, 67.2%; female, 32.8% | Hispanic, 22.0%; non-Hispanic black, 51.2%; non-Hispanic other, 3.3%; non-Hispanic white, 22.3% | Self-reported opioid use (past 30 days) |
| Bird et al., 2016 [74] | Scotland | 2,273 | Cohort (2006–2013) administrative data | Prison | Incarcerated persons with data related to ORD | Baseline, <35 y (52.8%); during NNP, <35 y (38.6%) | Baseline: Male, 80.9%; female, 19.1%; during NNP: male, 76.1%; female, 23.9% | NA | Self-reported risk of opioid overdose at release |
| Bird et al., 2017 [75] | Scotland | 4,124 | Cohort (2006–2015) administrative data | Prison | Incarcerated persons with data related to ORD | NA | NA | NA | Self-reported risk of opioid overdose at release |
| Springer et al., 2010 [76] | CT, US | 23 | RCT (2004–2010) | Prison | HIV-positive incarcerated persons (up to 90 days pre-release) | 46.4 y (mean) | Male, 78%; female, 22% | Black, 39%; Hispanic, 52%; white, 9% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Springer et al., 2012 [77] | CT, US | 94 | RCT (2005–2010) | Prison | HIV-positive incarcerated persons transitioning to the community | BPN/NLX, 45.6 y ± 6.0; no BPN/NLX, 46.5 y ± 7.5 | BPN/NLX: male, 88%; female, 12%; no BPN/NLX: male, 75%; female, 25% | BPN/NLX: white, 12.0%; black, 32.0%; Hispanic, 56.0%; no BPN/NLX: white, 25.0%; black, 54.6%; Hispanic, 20.4% | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Lobmaier et al., 2010 [78] | Norway | 46 | RCT (2005–2007) | Prison | Incarcerated persons with at least 2 months of sentence time remaining | 35.1 y ± 7.0 | Male, 93.2%; female, 6.8% | NA | DSM-IV for opioid dependence |
| Parmar et al., 2017 [79] | England | 1,557 | RCT (2012–2014) | Prison | Incarcerated persons (up to 3 months pre-release) | 18–24 y (5%); 25–34 y (50%); 35–44 y (39%); ≥45 y (6%) | Male, 98%; female, 2% | NA | Self-reported history of heroin use by injection |
*Values given as category (percentage), mean ± SD, median (IQR), or range.
BPN, buprenorphine; DSM-IV, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition; MMT, methadone maintenance treatment; NA, not available; NLX, naloxone; NNP, National Naloxone Program; NYC, New York City; ORD, opioid-related death; OAT, opioid agonist treatment; OST, opioid substitution therapy; OUD, opioid use disorder; RCT, randomized control trial; RIDOC, Rhode Island Department of Corrections; TAU, treatment as usual; XR-NTX, injectable extended-release naltrexone.