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Results sorted by updated date (newest first)
Posted 7/28/2021 (updated 4/2/2024)
The most effective treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) are the three prescription medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone—that are proved to increase a patient’s treatment retention and reduce illicit use and the risk of overdose. The only facilities legally able to offer all three medications are opioid treatment programs (OTPs), a critical component of the U.S. substance use treatment system that are regulated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as well as state agencies, and are certified to administer any FDA-approved medication for the treatment of OUD.
Posted 2/10/2020 (updated 3/28/2024)
The consequences for failing to treat OUD within correctional settings are significant. In addition to risk of overdose, most individuals who receive MAT in the community lose access to treatment upon confinement; studies show these individuals experience extreme stress. Individuals with opioid dependence entering correctional facilities are also at high risk for opioid withdrawal syndrome.
Posted 6/16/2020 (updated 3/28/2024)
At least 95 percent of individuals in state prisons will eventually return to communities. In fact, in a typical year more than half a million people do so, with many more coming from jails. A disproportionate share of these individuals have one or more chronic illnesses, including more than half who met the criteria for a non-alcohol and nicotine-related substance use disorder from 2007 to 2009, according to the latest available data.