McMillan, & Lapham, S. C. (2005). Staff perspectives on methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) in a large southwestern jail. Addiction Research & Theory, 13(1), 53–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066350512331328159 

https://www-tandfonline-com.revproxy.brown.edu/doi/abs/10.1080/16066350512331328159 

The purpose of the study was to develop and test an instrument to measure knowledge about methadone maintenance treatment, attitudes towards drug addiction, readiness to adopt a methadone maintenance program, and to determine how the staff at a large metropolitan detention center score on these domains. The authors found that many staff members have strong and often polarized opinions about drug treatment in a correctional setting. Results of this study suggest several steps towards improving the staff support for methadone maintenance therapy, which includes better education regarding opiate replacement therapy as an effective treatment for heroin addiction. This is a good reference for anyone seeking to better understand staff perspectives and ways to improve staff attitudes toward MOUD treatment in corrections. 

Bottom Line: This study found that staff at a correctional facility had strong, varying opinions on methadone treatment for individuals in jail and recommended steps were provided for how to increase support for methadone treatment among staff members.