Comparing the effectiveness of depot buprenorphine (buvidal injection) and buprenorphine/naloxone (suboxone) treatment following custody release - a retrospective cohort study

Background: Many opioid-dependent people in prison experience unplanned opioid withdrawal upon entry into custody and face high rates of relapse, opioid overdose, & even death following custody release. The aim of the study was to examine and compare the effectiveness of depot buprenorphine and buprenorphine-naloxone sublingual treatments following custody release. Methods: A retrospective descriptive comparative design, involving a review of electronic medical records (eMR) of 62 adults aged ±18 years who had received either buprenorphine-naloxone sublingual or depot buprenorphine treatment. The sample was identified from the intake register from 2019 to 2020. R statistical software was used for data analysis. Results: Former inmates treated with depot buprenorphine tended to stay in treatment longer (M ± SD: 122.8 ± 59.8 days) than those treated with buprenorphine-naloxone sublingual (M ± SD: 89.4 ± 66.6 days). Out of 28 former inmates on depot buprenorphine, six (21%) were re-incarcerated, compared to 13 out of 34 on buprenorphine-naloxone sublingual treatment (38%). Conclusions: Clients who received depot buprenorphine treatment prior to custody release exhibited better community treatment retention and a lower number of re-incarcerations compared to those who received buprenorphine-naloxone sublingual treatment. This study contributes to the limited knowledge base regarding depot buprenorphine and will inform future research.