Table 2.
Characteristics of those released from prison who were prescribed methadone during incarceration (n = 645).
| Variables | Frequency | % |
|---|---|---|
|
| ||
| Age at release (years), mean (±SD) | 37.1 (±7.8) | |
| Male | 618 | 95.8 |
| Released to Greater Bishkek area | 622 | 96.4 |
| HIV status, positive (n = 569) | 160 | 28.1 |
| Duration of current incarceration (months), mean (±SD) | 31.6 (±23.8) | |
| Percentage of time on methadone in prison, mean (±SD) | 47.1 (±40.0) | |
| On methadone in community upon prison entry | ||
| No | 620 | 96.1 |
| Yes | 25 | 3.9 |
| Methadone start dose in prison | ||
| Low (≤40 mg) | 542 | 84.0 |
| Medium (>40–85 mg) | 93 | 14.4 |
| High (>85 mg) | 10 | 1.6 |
| Maximum methadone dose in prison | ||
| Low (≤40 mg) | 142 | 22.0 |
| Medium (>40–85 mg) | 323 | 50.1 |
| High (>85 mg) | 180 | 27.9 |
| Methadone dose at the time of release | ||
| Not on methadone | 358 | 55.5 |
| Low (1–40 mg) | 91 | 14.1 |
| Medium (>40–85 mg) | 135 | 20.9 |
| High (>85 mg) | 61 | 9.5 |
| Rapid taper off methadone upon prison entry | 112 | 17.4 |
| Linked to methadone in community after release | 128 | 19.8 |
| Time to linkage to methadone in community (n = 128) | ||
| Within 7 days | 79 | 61.9 |
| Within 30 days | 15 | 11.7 |
| Within 90 days | 7 | 5.4 |
| >90 days | 27 | 21.1 |
| Reincarcerated | 47 | 7.3 |
| Died post release | 48 | 7.5 |
| Methadone start dose in community (n = 128) | ||
| Low (≤40 mg) | 54 | 42.5 |
| Medium (>40–85 mg) | 52 | 40.9 |
| High (>85 mg) | 21 | 16.5 |
| Maximum methadone dose in community (n = 128) | ||
| Low (≤40 mg) | 15 | 11.8 |
| Medium (>40–85 mg) | 67 | 52.8 |
| High (>85 mg) | 45 | 35.4 |
| Last post-release methadone dose in community (n = 128) | ||
| Low (≤40 mg) | 59 | 47.2 |
| Medium (>40–85 mg) | 43 | 34.4 |
| High (>85 mg) | 23 | 18.4 |
| Duration on methadone in community (months), mean (±SD) | 9.2 (±10.4) | |