Medicolegal Considerations in the Management of Opioid Use Disorder With Buprenorphine in the Correctional Setting

Buprenorphine-based medication-assisted treatment is a long-term strategy for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), a condition observed at disproportionate rates among incarcerated populations. Individuals with OUD are also at higher risk of overdose and death upon community reentry, necessitating effective interventions and care modalities targeted at this high-risk population. As support for buprenorphine in correctional health care increases, so do concerns surrounding personal liability for prescribers. This article seeks to identify problematic events related to prescribing buprenorphine to incarcerated individuals, clarify medicolegal implications, and provide recommendations for safe prescribing and administration within this unique setting.