RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Dosing and Misuse of Buprenorphine in the New Jersey Department of Corrections
JF Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
JO J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
FD American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
SP JAAPL.240071-24
DO 10.29158/JAAPL.240071-24
A1 Tamburello, Anthony
A1 Martin, Tracy L.
YR 2024
UL http://jaapl.org/content/early/2024/09/12/JAAPL.240071-24.abstract
AB Opioid use disorder is common in incarcerated persons, and concern about the diversion of buprenorphine is a barrier to treatment. We conducted a retrospective chart review of incarcerated persons in the New Jersey Department of Corrections who received charges for misuse of medication, including buprenorphine, hypothesizing that the prescription of buprenorphine monoproduct, multiple tabs or films of buprenorphine, or higher doses of buprenorphine would be associated with more diversion incidents. Within the dosing range of 2 to 12 mg, there were more incidents of diversion of buprenorphine monoproduct (24.3%) compared with buprenorphine-naloxone (10.7%, p = .004). More incidents of diversion were seen when multiple films or tabs of buprenorphine product were prescribed (21.7%, comparison 12.7%, p = .01). This observation held when considering multiple buprenorphine-naloxone films, but not multiple buprenorphine tablets. No statistically significant association was found for institutional diversion charges related to higher doses of buprenorphine products. These results suggest that, within the dosing range of buprenorphine used in the New Jersey Department of Corrections, misuse charges were not associated with higher doses although were associated with prescribing buprenorphine monoproduct and multiple films of buprenorphine-naloxone.