The case in summary: LAR (drug-assisted rehabilitation) in prison halves the risk of dying from an overdose after release, according to a new study. The study examined all releases from prison in the period 2000 to 2023, a total of over 112,000 people. In 2019, 12% of those entering probation had an opioid addiction disorder. Of these, 71% received LAR. Half of those who die of overdose each year have had a prison sentence in the last twenty years. There are problems connected to the distribution of LAR medicine in prison, as many inmates become dependent on other inmates’ LAR medicines. It is proposed to create separate departments for inmates who receive LAR medicines. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – It meant that I did not fall back into drugs when I was released. Eivin Dahl has served a total of seven years in prison. For many years he has struggled with drug addiction. But LAR became his salvation. LAR stands for drug-assisted rehabilitation and is treatment with drugs for people who are addicted to opioids. Halves the risk of dying Since 2016, Dahl has worked for LAR Øst in Stavanger, where he welcomes drug addicts and introduces them to LAR. He also works in the user organization ProLAR-Nett, which is a national association for people in LAR. A recent study shows that those who receive such treatment while serving time halve the risk of dying from an overdose when they are released. The study comes from the PriSUD project (external link). – I know that I am a better version of myself than before I started the treatment. LAR helped save my life, says Dahl. Today, Dahl uses his experiences with drug addiction to help others who struggle with the same. Photo: Simon Elias Bogen / news Researcher: – Important for reducing the overdose risk – This is a very clear finding. Since we use national data from the Norwegian Patient Register, we have a definite indication of this, says senior researcher at SERAF, Anne Bukten. The researchers have examined all releases from prison in the period 2000 to 2023. In total, we are talking about over 112,000 people. In 2019, twelve percent of those who began serving time had an opioid addiction disorder. Of these, 71 percent received LAR. – Getting LAR treatment during a sentence is incredibly important to reduce the overdose risk overall, says Bukten. Half of those who die of overdose each year have had a prison sentence in the last twenty years. Senior researcher Bukten emphasizes that when you are in LAR, you are being treated, and not on a drug. Senior researcher at the Center for Drug and Addiction Research (SERAF), Anne Bukten. Photo: Ine Eriksen / UiO Hooked on medication in prison But it is not entirely without consequences that inmates receive LAR treatment in prison. Two morphine-like drugs are mainly used in LAR: buprenorphine and methadone. – In prison, there is very little substance and narcotics available. Many of the inmates therefore become dependent on other inmates’ LAR medicines, says Dahl. Tor Erik Larsen is a leader in the Correctional Services Professional Association and has worked for 25 years as a prison officer. He says there are several problems related to the distribution of LAR medicine in prison. – It is good that LAR halves the risk of dying from an overdose. But the problem is that it creates more people who become addicted, says Larsen. Tor Erik Larsen has worked for many years as a prison officer. He is also a leader in the Professional Association of the Prison Service. Photo: Prison Service Association When the inmates are to receive the medicine, they often gather in large groups. – This is madness, because then you know that it will be more difficult to focus on the individual taking their medicine, he says. Larsen believes that separate departments should be created for inmates who receive LAR medicines. – Can live more stably Dahl in LAR East believes, like Larsen, that it is unfortunate that inmates become dependent on LAR medicines during their sentence. – When you enter prison, there is very little substance and drugs available. What is often available are LAR medicines on the wrong side, he says. At the same time, Dahl is clear that being in LAR made it easier to be released. – It gives you the opportunity to live more stably, he says. Published 02.08.2024, at 05.27 Updated 02.08.2024, at 08.45
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