Abstract
Background
People living with HIV (PLWH) and opioid use disorder (OUD) commonly experience criminal justice involvement (CJI). We sought to estimate the impact of CJI on 1) HIV care engagement, 2) antiretroviral therapy (ART) prescription rates, and 3) receipt of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), among PLWH and OUD in Vietnam.
Methods
Participants were PLWH enrolled in a 12-month MOUD treatment trial of HIV clinic-based buprenorphine vs. methadone referral in Vietnam. We compared those with CJI (arrest, incarceration, or compulsory “06” drug rehabilitation) during the first 9 months of the study to those with no CJI. To ensure participants with CJI had the opportunity to re-engage in treatment, only those who were released before their 9-month study visit were included; participants still incarcerated at 9 months were excluded. Logistic regression models estimated the association between CJI and HIV care engagement (≥ 1 visit), ART prescription, and receipt of MOUD between 9 and 12 months, controlling for demographics, substance use, past CJI, and HIV history.
Results
At baseline, 234 of 281 participants (83.6%) had a history of arrest/incarceration, and 172 (61.2%) reported prior 06 detention. During their first 9 months of study participation, 14 participants (5.0%) were arrested and 14 participants (5.0%) were sent to compulsory 06 rehabilitation. Being arrested (OR=0.04, 95% CI= (0.007, 0.25)), sent to compulsory 06 rehabilitation (OR=0.08, 95% CI= (0.02, 0.38)), or either (OR=0.07, 95% CI= (0.02, 0.24)), were negatively associated with receipt of MOUD. CJI involvement was also negatively associated with HIV clinic engagement after release (OR=0.20, 95% CI= (0.05, 0.84)). A similar negative association was noted for ART prescription, though it did not reach statistical significance (OR=0.17, 95% CI= (0.03, 1.22)).
Conclusion
Arrest, incarceration, and compulsory 06 rehabilitation negatively impact HIV and OUD care among people with HIV and OUD in Vietnam. Policies that decrease incarceration, and the impacts of incarceration, for people with OUD and HIV may improve care outcomes in Vietnam and elsewhere.
Disclosures
P Todd Korthuis, MD, MPH, Alkermes & Indivior (Other Financial or Material Support, Dr. Korthuis serves at principal investigator for NIH-funded studies that accept donated study medicine from Indivior (buprenorphine) and Alkermes (extended-release naltrexone).)
1007. Criminal Justice Involvement Negatively Impacts Engagement in Treatments for HIV and Opioid Use Disorder in Vietnam