A Focus Group Analysis with a Drug Court Team: Opioid Use Disorders and the Role of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) in Programming. Issue 2 (3rd April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gallagher, John R.; Nordberg, Anne; Francis, Zephi; Menon, Preeti; Canada, Meredith; Minasian, Raychel M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of social work practice in the addictions. Volume 21:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 139
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2021-04-03
• Subjects: Drug court -- medication-assisted treatment (MAT) -- opioid use disorder -- qualitative research -- substance use disorder; Social work with drug addicts -- Periodicals; Social work with alcoholics -- Periodicals; Drug abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Drug abuse counseling -- Periodicals; 362.29
• DOI: 10.1080/1533256X.2021.1912964
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1533-256X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Drug courts are an alternative to incarceration for individuals who have substance use disorders and nonviolent arrests, and these programs can be an avenue to recovery for those who have opioid use disorders. This qualitative study used a focus group methodology to explore drug court team members' thoughts, opinions, and lived experiences related to how the program treats opioid use disorders and the role of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in programming. The drug court team had favorable views toward MAT and reported that participants who received MAT experienced many positive outcomes. Additionally, members of the drug court team often had to educate participants on MAT, as some participants had inaccurate information and beliefs about MAT that were based on myths. The drug court team also candidly discussed their paradigm shift from not allowing MAT to incorporating MAT into programming. Implications for drug court practice and future research are discussed.