The expansion of opioid treatment programs in prisons could reduce the risk of overdose and death among ex-inmates, according to a Rutgers study. In a study of 53 individuals released from New Jersey state prisons who self-reported opioid use disorder, researchers found a significant interest in participating in prerelease treatment programs. Interviews were conducted between June 2020 and April 2021, within two months of release. “Our data support further expansion of prison opioid treatment programs and suggest that there are multiple areas for patient education to increase awareness of post-release opioid risks,” said Peter Treitler, doctoral student and research specialist at the Rutgers Center for Health Services Research and lead author of the study published in the journal Substance Abuse. To read the full story.