Monthly Injectable Buprenorphine May Reduce Staffing Time & Costs For OUD Treatment In Correctional Settings, Simulation Finds

April 27, 2026

A monthly injectable formulation of extended-release buprenorphine may reduce staffing time and associated costs for treating opioid use disorder (OUD) in correctional settings, according to a simulation model.

The model estimated staffing time and costs required to administer medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to 100 incarcerated individuals per month. Monthly hours for clinical professionals to administer and observe dosing and for security staff to accompany inmates ranged from 63 hours for Sublocade (17 clinical hours and 46 security hours) to 810 hours for oral buprenorphine (150 clinical hours and 660 security hours). Compared to other MOUD options, Sublocade resulted in monthly staff cost savings of $23 in comparison to monthly Brixadi XR, and a savings of $22,148 for oral buprenorphine. The savings were driven by reductions in administration time.

The largest reductions in staff time were observed when compared to daily dosing models.

• Oral buprenorphine: Clinical hours were 150 and security hours were 660, for a monthly administration cost of $24,055
• Methadone: Clinical hours were 138 and security hours were 244, for a monthly administration cost of $11,658.
• Weekly Brixadi extended-release buprenorphine: Clinical hours were 71 and security hours were 184, for a monthly administration cost of $7,722
• Monthly Brixadi extended-release buprenorphine: Clinical hours were 18 and security hours were 46, for a monthly administration cost of $1,931
• Monthly Sublocade extended-release buprenorphine: Clinical hours were 17 and security hours were 46, for a monthly administration cost of $1,908
• Extended-release naltrexone: Clinical hours were 19 and security hours were 50, for a monthly administration cost of $2,103

Researchers attributed these differences primarily to the elimination of daily observed dosing and reduced need for security staff to escort individuals to medication administration.

The model compared administration time and staffing costs across methadone, oral buprenorphine, extended-release buprenorphine formulations (including monthly and weekly options), and extended-release naltrexone. Staffing costs were based on national average wages for licensed practical nurses and correctional officers.

The analysis focused on staff time and did not include medication acquisition costs.

The findings were reported in Staffing Resource Use: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Cost Impact Model in Carceral Facilities by Chris D. Poole, Ph.D.; Courtney Flynn, MPH; Kristin Kistler, Ph.D.; and colleagues, published March 21, 2026, in the Journal of Current Medical Research and Opinion. A free copy is available (accessed April 16, 2026).

For more information, contact: William Mullen, Director, Real World Evidence, Indivior Inc., 10710 Midlothian Turnpike, Suite 125, North Chesterfield, Virginia 23235-4776; Email: william.mullen1@indivior.com; Website: https://www.indivior.com/en