SAMHSA published a brief that provides guidance to state governments on increasing the availability of evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in criminal justice settings. By including the criminal justice system as a path to treatment, states may see an increase in access to and retention in treatment, and lower rates of overdoses, re-offending, and re-incarcerations. Listen in to this opiate recovery support group as they discuss their experiences as a person with an opioid addiction, while they were incarcerated. 





Discussion Guide:





Have you been incarcerated during the course of your addiction?





If so, were you provided medical assistance during your stay? Or, upon your release?





Which medications were available?





Out of the 5,100 jails and prisons in the US, how many would you guess offered MAT in 2017? 





What percentage of drug courts required participants to discontinue methadone or buprenorphine in 2017?





What are the possible consequences of withholding MAT to inmates who are dependent upon opioids?





Without MAT, there is a 10-40x higher risk of death from overdose within two weeks of release from prison in a 2018 study. Why is that the case?





In what ways could MAT in jails and prisons be improved?





Supplemental Resources:





Use of Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Criminal Justice Settings, https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Medication-Assisted-Treatment-MAT-in-the-Criminal-Justice-System-Brief-Guidance-to-the-States/PEP19-MATBRIEFCJS