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. 2022 Oct 3;19(19):12647.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912647.

A Qualitative Systematic Review of Access to Substance Use Disorder Care in the United States Criminal Justice System

Rachel E Barenie  1 , Alina Cernasev  1 , Hilary Jasmin  2 , Phillip Knight  1 , Marie Chisholm-Burns  3
Affiliations

A Qualitative Systematic Review of Access to Substance Use Disorder Care in the United States Criminal Justice System

Rachel E Barenie et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: The majority of patients with a substance use disorder (SUD) in the United States do not receive evidence-based treatment. Research has also demonstrated challenges to accessing SUD care in the US criminal justice system. We conducted a systematic review of access to SUD care in the US criminal justice system.

Methods: We searched for comprehensive qualitative studies in multiple databases through April 2021, and two researchers reviewed 6858 studies using pre-selected inclusion criteria. Once eligibility was determined, themes were extracted from the data. This review provides a thematic overview of the US qualitative studies to inform future research-based interventions. This review was conducted in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA).

Results: There were 6858 unique abstract results identified for review, and seven qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria. Two themes were identified from these results: (1) managing withdrawal from medication-assisted treatment, and (2) facilitators and barriers to treatment programs in the criminal justice system.

Conclusions: Qualitative research evaluating access to SUD care in the US criminal justice system varied, with some interventions reported not rooted in evidence-based medicine. An opportunity may exist to develop best practices to ensure evidence-based treatment for SUDs is delivered to patients who need it in the US criminal justice system.

Keywords: criminal justice system; substance use disorder; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

REB serves as a clinical consultant to Alosa Health for opioid use disorder-related work. The rest of the authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA Diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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