Grant Victor, a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice (CBHJ) at Wayne State University's School of Social Work, has been accepted to participate in the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) Learning Experiences to Advance Practice (LEAP) program, as part of the Investigator Track. Through the two-year program, Victor will be immersed within the JCOIN ecosystem to collaborate with JCOIN researchers and develop as an independent investigator, with the overall goal of improving access to high-quality, evidence-based addiction treatment in jail settings.

Victor's proposal focused on the intersection of county jails, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and community-based post-release care. "This is an important intervention point that lacks research related to the implementation of evidence-based interventions", said Victor. "My goal is to understand how to facilitate MOUD interventions in criminal justice and reentry settings to mitigate the evolving overdose crisis and to advance the delivery of relatively low-cost, potentially high-impact intervention in criminal justice settings."

The reentry period is a key intervention point for justice-involved individuals with opioid use disorder, as they are at a considerable risk of fatal overdose or poor behavioral outcomes. Therefore, Victor hopes that his research developed within the JCOIN LEAP program will develop an intervention that is scalable to jails across the state of Michigan - where he currently provides technical assistance and evaluation with numerous jails in the state. He concluded by saying, "It is essential to understand the readiness of the correctional facilities to compliment ongoing MOUD services with integrated peer recovery support services, and to give a more definitive look at the effectiveness of a peer intervention in these unique settings. My hope is that this opportunity will lead to furthering relationships with local and state justice system stakeholders to expand community-based strategies that promote effective treatment and care in jails and after release."

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About the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice: The Wayne State University School of Social Work Center for Behavioral Health and envisions communities in which research, data, and best practices are used by multiple stakeholders to enhance the optimal well-being of individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorders who come into contact with the criminal/legal system. Learn more