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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2025, 27, 28

Weekly Long-Acting Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder in the Custody Setting: an Italian Experience

Dimosthenis Karonis

Digital Object Identifier:
https://doi.org/10.62401/2531-4122-2025-28

Summary: Background: Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) represents a chronic condition characterised by significant clinical complexity and is particularly prevalent within custodial settings. Methods: This observational report presents the experience of using weekly long-acting buprenorphine depot at the "S. Donato" prison in Pescara, involving a sample of 13 incarcerated individuals with OUD. Results: The findings indicate high treatment tolerability, complete absence of drug craving, and consistently negative toxicological screenings over a 24-week follow-up period. The treatment was well received by the patients, who reported improvements in psychological well-being, emotional stability, and a perceived sense of greater autonomy, attributed to the reduced frequency of drug administration and minimal disruption to the prison routine. Furthermore, the introduction of the long-acting formulation yielded notable organisational benefits, including a significant reduction in the time required for administration and enhanced safety for healthcare personnel. Conclusions: While further studies with larger cohorts are warranted, the data from this preliminary experience are consistent with international findings on the use of long-acting buprenorphine in correctional environments. These results support the feasibility and sustainability of buprenorphine depot as a viable and effective treatment strategy in Italian prisons.

Keywords: Opioid Use Disorder (Oud); Correctional Setting; Long-Acting Opioid Agonist Therapy; Weekly; Buprenorphine Depot; Treatment Adherence; Positive Organizational Impact