A county jail outside of Texas has recently gone to great lengths to legally dispense methadone, and it is the nation’s second jail with that capability. Research shows that approximately 65% of the people incarcerated in the US have substance use disorders (SUDs). Inmates with drug problems impact Texas as much as any other state. With that in mind along with the fact that jails are invariably seeking ways to meet inmates’ needs more affordably, the following is more information about this story regarding the second US jail to use methadone.

Methadone is dispensed to inmates in recovery. A jailer with decades of experience said that, with this development, the jail is treating offenders as well as the public. This is significant, he said because inmates can avoid a lapse in treatment when they are booked into jail.

The program behind this successful endeavor is best described as medically assisted treatment (MAT). Counseling and intake screening are combined to determine which candidates are appropriate for the program.

Among the frustrations that were involved with securing this capability, a jailer said that providers of methadone are excessively driven by profit. It is believed, however, that the jail will cut expenses as a result of allowing correctional staff members to provide prisoners with every aspect of their rehabilitation.

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–Guest Contributor