Incarceration and opioid withdrawal: the experiences of methadone patients and out-of-treatment heroin users

Shannon Gwin Mitchell; Sharon M Kelly; Barry S Brown; Heather Schacht Reisinger; James A Peterson; Adrienne Ruhf; Michael H Agar; Robert P Schwartz

doi:10.1080/02791072.2009.10399907

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Incarceration and opioid withdrawal: the experiences of methadone patients and out-of-treatment heroin users

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Incarceration and opioid withdrawal: the experiences of methadone patients and out-of-treatment heroin users

Shannon Gwin Mitchell, Sharon M Kelly, Barry S Brown, Heather Schacht Reisinger, James A Peterson, Adrienne Ruhf, Michael H Agar and Robert P Schwartz

Journal of psychoactive drugs, Vol.41(2), pp.145-152

06/2009

DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2009.10399907

PMCID: PMC2838492

PMID: 19705676

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Abstract

Both heroin-addicted individuals and methadone maintenance patients are likely to face untreated opioid withdrawal while incarcerated. Limited research exists concerning the withdrawal experiences of addicted inmates and their impact on individuals' attitudes and plans concerning drug abuse treatment. In the present study, 53 opioid dependent adults (32 in methadone treatment and 21 out of treatment) were interviewed in an ethnographic investigation of withdrawal experiences during incarceration. When treatment for opioid withdrawal was unavailable, detoxification experiences were usually described as negative and were often associated with a variety of unhealthy behaviors designed to relieve withdrawal symptoms. Negative methadone withdrawal experiences also negatively influenced participants' receptivity to seeking methadone treatment upon release. A minority of participants took a positive view of their withdrawal experience and saw it as an opportunity to detox from heroin or discontinue methadone. Findings support the importance of providing appropriate opioid detoxification and/or maintenance therapy to opioid-dependent inmates.

Opioid-Related Disorders - drug therapy

Prisoners - psychology

Opioid-Related Disorders - psychology

Heroin Dependence - drug therapy

Humans

Methadone - therapeutic use

Male

Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - therapy

Heroin Dependence - psychology

Treatment Refusal

Adult

Female

Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - psychology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Incarceration and opioid withdrawal: the experiences of methadone patients and out-of-treatment heroin users
Creators: Shannon Gwin Mitchell - Friends Research Institute, Inc., Social Research Center, 1040 Park Avenue, Suite 103, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. sgmitchell@frisrc.org
Sharon M Kelly
Barry S Brown
Heather Schacht Reisinger
James A Peterson
Adrienne Ruhf
Michael H Agar
Robert P Schwartz
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of psychoactive drugs, Vol.41(2), pp.145-152
DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2009.10399907
PMID: 19705676
PMCID: PMC2838492
NLM abbreviation: J Psychoactive Drugs
ISSN: 0279-1072
eISSN: 2159-9777
Grant note: R01 DA015842 / NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA015842-05 / NIDA NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 06/2009
Academic Unit: Center for Social Science Innovation; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984094330002771

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