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Opioid substitution treatment (OST) to reduce injecting risk behaviours in prison

Summary of the evidence

Rating
  • Beneficial

Opioid substitution provided in prison settings was found in a systematic review (ECDC/EMCDDA, 2018) to be effective in:

  • reducing injecting risk behaviour.

The result is confirmed in another systematic review (Palmateer et al., 2022, 27 systematic review, 61 studies) that found sufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of OST in:

  • the prevention of injecting risk behaviours and injecting frequency among PWID in prison settings.

Details

Note: this evidence summary is only valid for the outcomes, target groups, settings and substances/patterns of use described below.

Name of response option
  • Pharmacological treatment
Desired outcome(s)
  • reduce risk behaviours
Area(s)
  • Harm reduction
Specific substance or pattern of use
  • opioids
Target group(s) or setting(s)
  • prison

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