Using monthly injectable buprenorphine to treat opioid addiction in prisons

Injectable Extended-Release Buprenorphine (XR-B) in a Correctional Setting: Qualitative Interviews

Observational Lifespan · NCT06354465

This study is testing if a monthly injectable medication for opioid addiction can help people in prison stick to their treatment better than daily options.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment25 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorLifespan Academic / other
Locations1 site (Cranston, Rhode Island)
Trial IDNCT06354465 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study explores the feasibility and effectiveness of extended-release buprenorphine (XR-B) as a treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) among incarcerated individuals. Through qualitative interviews with inmates and stakeholders, the research aims to identify the potential benefits and challenges of implementing this monthly injectable medication compared to daily treatments. The study seeks to determine which segments of the prison population may benefit most from XR-B, providing insights into treatment adherence and compliance in a correctional setting.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are English-speaking incarcerated individuals over the age of 18 who have been diagnosed with opioid use disorder.

Not a fit: Patients with severe, persistent mental illness may not benefit from this study due to the complexities of their conditions and the need for specialized treatment.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve treatment adherence for opioid use disorder in correctional facilities, leading to better health outcomes for incarcerated individuals.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is innovative in a correctional context, similar studies on extended-release buprenorphine have shown promise in other settings, suggesting potential for success.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Incarcerated individuals, inclusion criteria:

* English speaking
* Over the age of 18
* Diagnosed with opioid use disorder

Incarcerated individuals, Exclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosed with "Severe, Persistent, Mental Illness (SPMI)" Rationale for Exclusion: These individuals suffer from severe mental health disease and therefore warrant greater protection, have greater risk for coercion, and offer insights to severe co-diagnosis treatment that, while important, remain outside the scope of general MAT implementation.

Organizational Stakeholders, Inclusion Criteria:

- Employed or contracted by Rhode Island Department of Corrections (for organizational staff interviews) and involved with the Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) program

Organizational Stakeholders, Exclusion Criteria:

- If not permitted by their organizational union to participate

Where this trial is running

Cranston, Rhode Island

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Opioid Use DisorderCriminal JusticeTreatment Adherence and Complianceaddictioncriminal justiceMedications for opioid use disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.