Institute News
Expanding Evidence-Based Practice for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in Baltimore County
Baltimore County has partnered with the University of Maryland School of Social Work’s Institute for Innovation and Implementation to provide evaluation support on a federal grant that Baltimore County received from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. SAMHSA funds grants to improve and expand substance use treatment services in states and communities throughout the United States. This grant, entitled Baltimore County Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Capacity Expansion Project, provides MAT to individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) incarcerated at the Baltimore County Detention Center (BCDC). Through a $500,000, five-year contract with Baltimore County, the Institute will provide technical assistance, evaluation, and implementation support.
The Baltimore County Department of Health (BCDH) uses peer recovery support specialists and behavioral therapies to address the needs of incarcerated individuals with OUD. In addition to these two evidence-based practices, BCDH has now added MAT, as supported by Baltimore County’s SAMHSA grant. MAT is currently the most effective treatment for people with OUD. The primary role of the Institute in this work will be to evaluate and improve the planned multi-phase implementation of MAT at BCDC.
MAT has been shown to reduce drug use, overdose, and mortality; and improve engagement in recovery among individuals with OUD. For those who are in the criminal justice system, MAT can reduce overdose during reentry and reduce further involvement in the justice system. As such, the overall goal of this project is to improve the wellbeing of people with OUD and reduce mortality associated with OUD by increasing engagement in MAT and reducing incidences of drug overdose among those in reentry from BCDC.
In order to evaluate the impact of this MAT program in Baltimore County, the Institute will design data collection protocols and provide training and support on how to maintain contact with people who are in reentry. The study will compare the outcomes of MAT-treated and non-MAT treated individuals incarcerated at BCDC to include post-release recidivism, re-incarceration, fatal and non-fatal overdose incidences, and healthcare utilization. Through this study, we will better understand how to best support people with OUD during incarceration and in community reentry.
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