Date of Conferral

6-5-2025

Date of Award

June 2025

Degree

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

School

Psychology

Advisor

Andrea Goldstein

Abstract

Behavioral health professionals are concerned with the opioid epidemic in the United States, as opioid use results in needless overdose deaths annually. Relapse prevention is the theory that grounded this study, and naltrexone or extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) was used to measure effectiveness for 50 forensic, rural, and urban individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) to prevent relapse. Furthermore, this study used a chi square test of independence, nonparametric test with a Cramer’s V, and Fisher’s exact. While outcomes revealed no significant differences between rural and urban groups, significant evidence was observed when medication outcomes and medication extent were evaluated, Pearson chi square p < .001, Cramer’s V = 1.0, p < .001, and Fisher’s exact = 56.094, p < .001. This study provided a nucleus for positive social change by helping to save, change, and improve lives and to offer hope to a population that often feels that they have no hope. Going forward, recommendations for the behavioral health field should include further study of forensic, rural, and urban populations with OUD, as well as evaluation of the effectiveness of naltrexone and XR-NTX

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

 
COinS