Scott, C. K., Grella, C. E., Dennis, M. L., Carnevale, J., & LaVallee, R. (2022). Availability of best practices for opioid use disorder in jails and related training and resource needs: findings from a national interview study of jails in heavily impacted counties in the U.S. Health & justice, 10(1), 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-022-00197-3 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36538121/ 

In this study, counties with high OUD severity were asked to participate and 76% of counties and 74% of jails within those counties agreed to participate. Interviews with representatives from these jails were conducted to discuss what best practices are being utilized by the jails for MOUD. The ten best practices discussed were: OUD assessment, screening, medication managed withdrawal, administration of MOUD, MOUD for pregnant people, counseling, collaborating with providers, insurance assistance, re-entry services, and overdose prevention. It was found that 70% of jails in the study stated that the ten practices were utilized in some way. However, the level of utilization varied among prisons. The practices that were least fully utilized involved re-entry services, insurance assistance, MOUD for pregnant people, and collaboration with community treatment programs. 

Bottom Line: This study surveyed jails in 244 counties with high rates of OUD to see how well the ten best practices for MOUD treatment were utilized and it was found that 70% of jails that participated in the study stated they utilized all ten practices in some capacity.