This application describes a 3-year, randomized controlled trial. Eligible, consenting adults (N=200) with existing sublingual buprenorphine (SLB) prescriptions who enter Middlesex County House of Corrections (MCHOC) as pre-trial detainees will be randomized at admission on a 1:1 basis to be inducted onto extended-release buprenorphine (XRB) at the time of admission (experimental condition) or remain in SLB (E-TAU; all participants will also receive naloxone). The two approaches will be compared with regard to (1) the percentage of participants released from jail with at least 7 days of buprenorphine in their system, (2) percentage of participants continuing MOUD treatment in the community, and (3) infractions related to buprenorphine diversion.
Who can participate
Sex
MALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Incarcerated men able to provide written informed consent in English.\*
* Unsentenced.
* Entering the facility with a prescription for SLB and receiving SLB for at least the previous 3 days.
* Minimum anticipated jail stay is 4 days.
* Willing to accept being randomized to the experimental condition (i.e., transitioning to XRB while incarcerated).
Exclusion Criteria:
* Sentenced.
* Allergy, hypersensitivity or medical contraindication to either medication.
* Chronic pain requiring opioid pain management or other contraindicated medications.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Percentage of participants released from jail with at least 7 days of buprenorphine in their system