Evaluation of Opioid-Dependent Prisoners in Oral Opioid Maintenance Therapy

Background: Opioid maintenance treatment is available in prison in many countries, but without a specific methodology or homogeneity. The aim of our study was to investigate characteristics and differences among opioid-dependent prisoners in an Austrian penitentiary. Methods: Structured assessments were obtained from 57 (78.1%) of 73 opioid-maintained prisoners on their demographic data, imprisonment terms, health status and quality of life. Results: From 1996 until 2007, the number of opioid-maintained detainees increased by 444%. Prisoners treated with methadone had significantly more convictions (p=0.036) and a longer duration of poly-drug abuse (p=0.093) and opioid consumption (p=0.05) than patients maintained on slow-release morphine. Conclusions: There is a strong need for a diversification of opioid maintenance treatments, as well as the development of a specific methodology for the use of therapeutic opioids in prison.