What is this strategy?
Support evidence-based addiction treatment, including Medication-Assisted Treatment with at least one FDA-approved opioid agonist, to persons who are incarcerated in jail or prison.
Why addiction treatment for incarcerated persons?
Increasing the availability of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with FDA-approved medications, such as buprenorphine, within the justice system is critical to ensuring that all individuals have access to evidence-based treatment. Studies have shown that MAT reduces criminal activity, overdose risk, the spread of costly infectious diseases, and recidivism.
With the risk of overdose during the first two weeks post-release nearly 40 times higher among formerly incarcerated individuals compared to the general public, access to MAT within the justice system as well as expedited transitions to treatment in the community is critical.
Jail based MAT programs can take many different forms and can be implemented gradually based on the resources and capacity of the individual detention center.
Featured Resources
- Read a brief overview of MAT in jails, including helpful resources and a NC case study
- Explore a how-to toolkit for establishing a jail-based overdose prevention education program in your area
Complete List of Resources
NC Association of County Commissioners Webinar
A 90-minute webinar, “Strategies to Address the Opioid Epidemic – Justice-Involved Programming”, that discusses the North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Program, jail-based MOUD, connections to care, and Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office’s strategic community opioid response
Using Medication-Assisted Treatment in Jails: A North Carolina Focus
A brief, 2-page overview of MAT in jails, including helpful resources and a NC case study
“Breaking the Cycle: Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in the Criminal Justice System“
A blog post from SAMSHA that includes important reflections and resources about MAT in the criminal justice system
A Primer for Implementation of Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution in Jails and Prisons
This primer outlines strategies for developing,
coordinating, and monitoring and
evaluating jail and prison-based programs
Jail-Based MAT: Promising Practices, Guidelines and Resources
A resource to support jail administrators in providing effective treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder
Jail-based Overdose Prevention Education and Naloxone Distribution Toolkit
A how-to toolkit for establishing a jail-based overdose prevention education program