Files and links (1)
Neill-Gubitz Dissertation722.22 kB
Embargoed Access, Embargo ends: 06/24/2026
Dissertation
An Examination of the Intersection of the Opioid Epidemic and COVID-19 Pandemic for Incarcerated Patients in Washington State
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
05/2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000006510
Abstract
Over 2 million adults are currently incarcerated in jail and prison facilities across the United States. Incarcerated patients are disproportionately impacted by chronic medical conditions, mental health conditions, and opioid use disorder. Historically, incarcerated patients have been considered high risk during public health emergencies, a classification that carried into the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, incarcerated patients were considered particularly high-risk for severe infection and outcomes due to their complex health histories, inability to physically distance, reduced access to personal protective equipment, variable carceral facility-based healthcare services, and inability to self-admit to community-based healthcare facilities for treatment. The existing impact of the opioid epidemic on these patients placed them at even higher risk for severe infection and outcomes.
The overall objective of this dissertation was to examine the impact of both the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic on incarcerated patients in Washington State. This dissertation consists of three manuscripts examining the availability of healthcare services and treatment options for opioid use disorder in carceral facilities as well as the clinical outcomes of incarcerated patients and patients with opioid use disorder who were hospitalized with COVID-19. Manuscript 1 reports results of a three-state survey of jail and prison facilities regarding healthcare services and opioid use disorder treatment. Manuscript 2 reports an analysis of clinical characteristics and outcomes for incarcerated patients in Washington State who were hospitalized in a statewide health system and tested positive for COVID-19. Manuscript 3 reports an analysis of clinical outcomes and characteristics of patients with opioid use disorder in Washington State who were hospitalized in a statewide health system and tested positive for COVID-19.
This dissertation fills a gap in literature, expanding knowledge regarding the availability of healthcare services and treatment for opioid use disorder in carceral facilities. It adds to the body of research regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both incarcerated patients and patients with opioid use disorder. Additionally, this study highlights the need for further research into the relationship between the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic for incarcerated patients.
Metrics
16 Record Views
Details
- Title
- An Examination of the Intersection of the Opioid Epidemic and COVID-19 Pandemic for Incarcerated Patients in Washington State
- Creators
- Hannah Suzanne Neill-Gubitz
- Contributors
- Celestina Barbosa-Leiker (Chair)Denise A Smart (Committee Member)Janessa M. Graves (Committee Member)Ekaterina Burduli (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Nursing, College of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 143
- Identifiers
- 99901122439201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation