Improving Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment for People Leaving Jail in Maryland
Impact of a Maryland Law Requiring Jails to Provide Medications for Opioid Use Disorder on Recently Incarcerated People.
This work looks at how a new Maryland law helps people with opioid use disorder get treatment while in jail and after they are released, aiming to reduce overdose risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11088158 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people with opioid use disorder face withdrawal in jail because treatment isn't available, which increases their risk of overdose and other health problems after release. Maryland passed a law requiring jails to provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and connect people to care in the community. This project will use existing health and correctional records to understand how this law is working and how it affects people's health outcomes after they leave jail. We want to learn what makes these programs most effective across different jail settings and communities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work is relevant for individuals with opioid use disorder who have been incarcerated in Maryland jails since the law's implementation.
Not a fit: Patients who have not been incarcerated in Maryland jails or do not have opioid use disorder would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better access to life-saving opioid use disorder treatment for incarcerated individuals, reducing overdose deaths and improving health outcomes after release.
How similar studies have performed: This is the first U.S. law of its kind, making this a novel evaluation of a statewide policy, though MOUD in correctional settings has shown promise in smaller programs.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kennedy Hendricks, Alene — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Kennedy Hendricks, Alene
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.