# Buprenorphine for probationers and parolees: Bridging the gap into treatment

> **NIH NIH R01** · FRIENDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC. · 2020 · $628,448

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 This proposed five-year study will evaluate the effectiveness of the administration of
buprenorphine bridge treatment (BBT) to probationers and parolees compared to treatment as
usual (TAU), which consists of referral to a community buprenorphine treatment program.
Project implementation will occur at Guilford Avenue, the primary intake unit for Baltimore City
Community Supervision (Probation and Parole). The proposed study is a parallel two-group
randomized controlled trial in which 160 men and 160 women with OUD on community
supervision in Baltimore will be randomly assigned within community supervision status
(probation or parole) and gender to one of two treatment conditions: (1) Buprenorphine Bridge
Treatment (BBT): Participants will begin buprenorphine pharmacotherapy using the MedicaSafe
buprenorphine dispensing device immediately after an on-site intake at a community
supervision office and continue such treatment until they are transitioned to community
buprenorphine treatment; or (2) Treatment as Usual (TAU): Participants will receive a referral to
buprenorphine treatment in the community. Both conditions will receive information on overdose
prevention. Participants will be assessed at baseline, and 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months post-intake
using a comprehensive assessment battery. The Primary Aim: To compare the relative
effectiveness of BBT to TAU in terms of: (a) illicit opioid urine test results. The Secondary Aim:
To examine the extent to which BBT is superior to TAU in terms of: (b) number of days receiving
opioid treatment; (c) number of days using illicit opioids; (d) quality of life (i. physical health; ii.
mental health); (e) HIV risk behaviors (i. sexual behavior; ii. needle use or sharing); (f) criminal
activity; (g) re-arrest; and (h) re-incarceration. The proposed study is significant because the large
number of probationers/parolees with OUD have limited access to an efficacious treatment,
buprenorphine pharmacotherapy. The proposed study is innovative because it would be the first
trial in the US assessing the effectiveness of interim buprenorphine initiated at a community
supervision office compared to referral to a community treatment program. The public health
impact would be widespread, as this model of care could be scaled-up throughout many areas
of the US with criminal justice populations with high rates of OUD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9898338
- **Project number:** 5R01DA043476-03
- **Recipient organization:** FRIENDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael Scott Gordon
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $628,448
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-15 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9898338

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9898338, Buprenorphine for probationers and parolees: Bridging the gap into treatment (5R01DA043476-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9898338. Licensed CC0.

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