Wright, NMJ, Mohammed, Z orcid.org/0000-0001-9382-6829 and Hughes, GJ (2014) Comparative prices of diverted buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine in a UK prison setting: A cross-sectional survey of drug using prisoners. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 144. pp. 254-258. ISSN 0376-8716
Abstract
Background There is evidence regarding the abuse potential of buprenorphine in prison settings. There is also emerging evidence from community settings that buprenorphine/naloxone is less amenable to abuse than the single preparation buprenorphine hydrochloride as evidenced by cost-differentials of diverted medication. This study sought to explore cost-differentials within a prison setting of diverted buprenorphine/naloxone medication relative to either single preparation buprenorphine hydrochloride or methadone. Methods Cross-sectional survey in one remand prison. Results A total of 85 prisoners participated in the survey. Prisoners estimated buprenorphine to have a significantly (p < 0.001) higher cost than buprenorphine/naloxone both inside and outside of prison. This finding was supported when the analysis was restricted to both the prisoners with a longer-term experience of taking opioid substitution drugs during their current prison stay and those with a longer-term experience prior to reception. Conclusions Consideration should be given to the recommendation that buprenorphine/naloxone medication is the prescribed buprenorphine preparation of choice for clinicians offering opiate substitution therapy to prisoners, pending developments of buprenorphine preparations that have less abuse potential than sublingual preparations.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Keywords: | Buprenorphine/naloxone; Buprenorphine; Prescription drug abuse; Prisons; Opioid substitution treatment |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Nursing Mental Health (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 16 Mar 2017 15:01 |
Last Modified: | 16 Mar 2017 15:01 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.775 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.775 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:107647 |