MAT in Criminal Justice Systems

Description of Strategy

MAT, or medication-assisted treatment, is the use of FDA-approved medications (such as methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone) to treat opioid use disorders. When combined with some form of counseling, it is an effective method for treating, or preventing, the abuse and misuse of both prescription and illicit opioids.

There are a number of people within the criminal justice system that could benefit from the use MAT to limit opioid use disorder. In fact, recent findings from the Bureau of Justice Statistics estimate that 63% of incarcerated people have a substance abuse disorder, with a recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine stating that only 5% of people with OUD in prison receive MAT treatment (Bronson et al., 2017; NASEM, 2019).

MAT is poorly utilized in the treatment of opioid-dependent, criminal justice populations (Nunn et al., 2009). This is despite evidence that MAT reduces criminal behavior related to drug use, (Belenko et al., 2013).  As opioid-involved criminal justice populations return to the community, evidence-based programs like MAT can reduce the costs associated with recidivism, and the risk of overdose upon reentry (Kinlock et al., 2008).

In Wyoming

Wyoming does not provide MAT in its correctional facilities at this point in time.

Discussion of Effectiveness

At-risk populations that have access to MAT are less likely to misuse opioids (Friedman et al., 2012). For example, by including MAT within the criminal justice system, there is likely to be an increase in retention in treatment programs, and a reduced strain on resources allocated for the criminal justice system (Schwartz et al., 2009; Chandler et al., 2009). Those who participate in methadone treatment and counseling within the criminal justice system are less likely to test positive for illicit opioids one month following their release (Kinlock et al., 2007).