Association Between Loneliness and Mental Health Treatment Utilization in a Prison-Based Substance Use Treatment Population

Abstract

This article examines mental health service use among 395 incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder in 14 prison-based substance use programs, as part of the Geographic Variation in Addiction Treatment Experiences Study. It explores how mental health symptoms and loneliness relate to service utilization using two multivariate logistic regression models for before incarceration and during incarceration. Utilization rose from 19% before incarceration to 38% during incarceration. While 78% of individuals met criteria for depression and 58% met criteria for anxiety, neither predicted service use. In contrast, loneliness was significantly associated with greater utilization during incarceration (adjusted odds ratio: 1.14, p = .026). These findings highlight loneliness as a key driver of mental health service use in incarcerated populations, consistent with general population trends. Further research should explore the role of social networks in shaping service utilization in correctional settings.