While spending time in prison is no one’s idea of the ideal way to deal with drug or alcohol addiction, it can be a good opportunity to get clean. Sixty-five percent of all incarcerated people meet the criteria for a substance use disorder.
In the case of opiates, medications such as buprenorphine and methadone can be started while in prison. These decrease the chances of not only future drug use, but future incarceration. Inmates treated with methadone or buprenorphine prior to release are more likely to engage in post-release treatment, and to stay in treatment longer. These medications should be used in combination with behavior therapy for best results. In one study of 211 inmates, the percentage of participants that entered treatment after release were examined. Of those who received only counseling while incarcerated, 7.8 percent sought treatment. In contrast, in those who had both counseling and treatment by a medication such as methadone, the number was 68.8 percent. Of those who tested positive for opioids at one month after release, 62.9 percent had received counseling only, with those who had both counseling and methadone at 27.6 percent.
For one study, every individual entering the correctional system in Rhode Island was screened for opioid addiction. Those who needed it were provided with evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which included the use of medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone. In addition, a system of community-based Centers of Excellence was established in order to continue MAT therapy and provide support after their release. In the first six months of 2017, nine of 157 fatal overdoses (5.7 percent) in the state occurred among recently released inmates, compared to 14.5 percent in the first six months of 2016. This is a 60.5 percent reduction in mortality.
Intervention in inmates with substance abuse disorders not only saves lives, it saves money. In California, it is estimated that treating prisoners with methadone or buprenorphine resulted in savings of nearly $18,000 per person over 6 months. A California law that allows qualified drug offenders to enter treatment instead of jail also saved the state close to $100 million in just one year.
Unfortunately, not many prisons do offer these services. The American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry released a policy paper outlining the changes that need to be made to our justice system. These include screening every inmate for substance abuse and psychiatric disorders, providing quick medical care if needed, training staff to recognize the symptoms of intoxication and withdrawal, providing addiction and mental health therapy, instituting 12-step programs or support groups, and allowing non-violent offenders to be placed in treatment programs rather than prisons.
Whether you’ve already been incarcerated for drug use or are trying to avoid it, call Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Contact us any time at (949) 438-4504 and let us get you on the road to recovery.
