As criminal justice agencies grapple with the impacts of the opioid epidemic, an increasing number of correctional facilities are using medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in order to initiate or maintain treatment among individuals experiencing opioid use disorders. Despite the potential for MAT to reduce recidivism and overdose fatalities, many jails and prisons are reluctant to allow individuals to be on MAT medications due to diversion concerns.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance leadership, in collaboration with the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program team, will host a no-cost webinar on November 28, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
This session will highlight lessons learned from six medication-assisted treatment clinics in Florida by Operation PAR, Inc., which instituted the use of videoconferencing to enhance and expand service delivery. Videoconferencing refers to providing assessment, treatment, and recovery services online.
Panelists will discuss:
Individuals exiting prisons and jails have an increased likelihood of opioid overdose. Some corrections systems have chosen to address this risk through the use of reentry programs that incorporate medication-assisted treatment (MAT). While a range of Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program site-based projects are tackling the opioid epidemic by focusing on the front end of the criminal justice system (for example, through the roles of first responders), several teams are focusing on improving jail- and prison-related strategies.