ADDICTION BEHIND BARS

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Substance Use Disorder is a major driver of incarceration in the United States. Inmates with untreated addiction face a high risk of relapse and reoffending upon release, especially in the first few weeks - at time when the risk of overdose death is up to 129 times higher than the general population. In fact, overdose is the leading cause of death among people returning to their communities after being in jail or prison. When people with addiction leave prison or jail and return to their communities, their tolerance level has diminished during incarceration. Returning to drug use, even one time, can lead to a fatal overdose. 

It remains a common belief that simply stopping someone from taking drugs while in jail or prison is an effective approach to treatment. But this belief is inaccurate and dangerous. The Food and Drug Administration has approved three medications for opioid use disorder: Methadone, Buprenorphine, and Naltrexone. All three are effective, safe, and life-saving. But they are drastically underused, particularly in criminal justice settings. 

Studies show that people who receive medication for treatment of substance use disorder while in jail or prison are less likely to return to drug use and more likely to continue with treatment after being released from incarceration. Plus, the overdose death rates have been shown to be decreased by 30% in communities with jails/prisons that utilize MAT programs.