We are very pleased to hear about the recent legal victories in regard to Medication Assistance Treatment (MAT) for individuals who are incarcerated. In this day and age when MAT has clearly been determined to be an effective practice, why would vivitrol, suboxone or methadone be denied to individuals who are incarcerated?
On a personal level, I am familiar with several people who have been incarcerated because of illegal activities that took place while high on heroin. Once incarcerated, they were denied MAT and as a result, they immediately went back to heroin after being released from prison and within days were re-arrested.
With MAT, instead of being back in the cycle of incarceration, they could well have been on their way to recovery. It’s shameful that MAT is not available in prisons and jails across the country. We hope that these recent rulings will foster an environment of recovery for individuals who are incarcerated with addictions. It is a humane, cost effective and beneficial response to the opioid epidemic
In Washington, Settlement Agreement Reached with Whatcom County Jail to
Provide MAT, and in Massachusetts, Federal Appeals Court Upholds Ruling
that Jail Must Provide MAT to Woman in Maine
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