Results of a pilot randomized controlled trial of buprenorphine for opioid dependent women in the criminal justice system.

Aims: Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of both methadone and buprenorphine when used with opioid dependent men transitioning from prison to the community, but no studies have been conducted with women in the criminal justice (CJ) system. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of buprenorphine for relapse prevention among opioid dependent women in the CJ system transitioning back to the community.

Methods: 36 women under CJ supervision were recruited from an inpatient drug treatment facility that treats CJ individuals returning back to the community.

Factors predicting substance dependence and psychotropic medication use among offenders in community corrections.

Co-occurring substance abuse and mental illness is prevalent among criminal offenders, but little is known about risk factors for these co-occurring disorders (COD) in community corrections population. To identify risk factors for COD in community corrections offenders, we analyzed assessment data from 5,595 offenders maintained under community supervision at a substance use diversion program. Three groups, offenders with substance use disorders who were taking psychotropic medications (SUPM), offenders with a substance use disorder (SUD) only and controls were compared.

Impact of self-initiated pre-quit smoking reduction on cessation rates: results of a clinical trial of smoking cessation among female prisoners.

Objectives: This study examined differences in cessation success based on smokers' self-initiated pre-quit reductions in cigarettes per day (cpd).

Methods: The study utilized data from a nicotine replacement+behavioral therapy smoking cessation intervention conducted in a female prison facility with 179 participants who were wait-listed for 6 months prior to intervention. We compared two groups of smokers based on whether they self-selected to reduce smoking prior to their cessation attempt (n=77) or whether they increased smoking or did not reduce (n=102).

The impact of quitting smoking on weight among women prisoners participating in a smoking cessation intervention.

Objectives: We examined the impact of smoking cessation on weight change in a population of women prisoners.

Methods: Women prisoners (n = 360) enrolled in a smoking cessation intervention; 250 received a 10-week group intervention plus transdermal nicotine replacement.

Results: Women who quit smoking had significant weight gain at 3- and 6-month follow-ups, with a net difference of 10 pounds between smokers and abstainers at 6 months.

Factors related to injection drug use among female prisoners.

Female inmates (N = 655) of a large prison facility in the southeastern United States were surveyed about their substance use, social histories, and demographics. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify predictors of injection drug use. The sample was primarily young (M = 34 +/- 9 years), and evenly split on race (45.

Smoking characteristics of community corrections clients.

Introduction: While smoking rates are 3-4 times higher among criminal justice populations than in the general population, no studies have previously examined smoking characteristics in a community corrections population.

Methods: The current study involved descriptive analyses of self-reported survey data from 217 criminal justice supervisees reporting for urine drug screens during a 5-day period at a community corrections facility in the southeastern United States.

Results: Most participants were current smokers (72.