Learn How Medication-assisted Treatment Can Help People with Opioid Use Disorder in the Criminal Justice System

In a new report, A Path to Recovery: Treating Opioid Use in West Virginia’s Criminal Justice System, the Vera Institute of Justice examines how expanding access to treatment options can help people in the criminal justice system overcome opioid addiction. Specifically, the report summarizes how West Virginia is using medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to address the opioid crisis.

Authors Ram Subramanian and Alison Shames highlight how MAT, regarded as one of the most promising practices for treating opioid use disorder, can be especially effective when paired with Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) strategies. In West Virginia, JRI has provided a framework that:

• Uses community engagement specialists and peer recovery coaches to deliver MAT services;
• Educates justice-involved people on MAT so that they can make informed treatment decisions;
• Connects individuals to treatment providers, community engagement specialists, and peer recovery coaches within the community to promote continuity of care after release from jail or prison;
• Prioritizes evidence-based supervision practices and risk/needs assessments to best achieve behavioral change; and
• Uses state funding to leverage federal funding (e.g., Medicaid) to increase access to MAT, especially for those without health insurance.

To learn more about West Virginia’s model for addressing opioid use disorder in the criminal justice system, access the full report.