Headline
Statewide jail and prison implementation of medication for addiction treatment (MAT) program in Rhode Island led to a significant decrease in overdose deaths post-incarceration.
Context
There is a high prevalence of people with substance use disorder (SUD) in the criminal legal system and prisons and jails have a role to play in SUD treatment. The Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) implemented a medication for addiction treatment (MAT) program within all of the state’s jail and prison facilities in 2016 to better serve people incarcerated with opioid use disorder (OUD). This study assessed the impact of the program on deaths from overdose among individuals leaving incarceration.
Findings
Individuals who entered jails or prisons having previously been receiving MAT in the community were provided with MAT in the facilities. Several community-based OUD treatment centers were also established to facilitate continuity of care following release for individuals receiving MAT. The authors analyzed statewide overdose death data six-months pre- and post-program implementation, finding that overdose deaths among those who had recently been incarcerated decreased from 26 out of 179 total overdose deaths (14.5%) pre-implementation to 9 out of 157 (5.7%) post-implementation, representing a 61% reduction in overdose deaths.
Takeaways
Prisons and jails are critical access points for evidence-based SUD treatment, like MAT. State policymakers, health care providers, and correctional officials can consider incorporating MAT programs into jails and prisons, especially given the inclusion of MAT in correctional settings as a reimbursable service through Medicaid as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ reentry 1115 demonstration waiver opportunity.