Photography by Harvey Finkle and illustrations by Gerardo Garduño
We provide information, legal advice, advocacy, and representation on civil and constitutional rights matters. We do not assist with criminal matters, habeas cases, sentencing, or parole issues.
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A Report from the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project
MEDICATION FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER IN PENNSYLVANIA JAILS AND PRISONS
The standard of care for treating Opioid Use Disorder (“OUD”) in the medical community is treatment with Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (“MOUD”), specifically agonist medications, such as methadone or buprenorphine (often in the form of Suboxone), as compared to antagonist medications, such as naltrexone. The consensus around the importance of agonist MOUD stems from data showing that it is the most effective treatment at reducing overdoses, relapse, and recidivism, and increasing the ability of people with OUD to enter recovery. However, the stigma associated with drug use—and the mistaken belief that agonist MOUD is just replacing one drug with another—poses a serious barrier to access to MOUD, especially in jails and prisons. OUD is very common among incarcerated people, but despite the effectiveness of MOUD, access is frequently limited or completely nonexistent in jails and prisons. As a result, individuals with OUD entering jail or prison must endure withdrawal, a painful and medically dangerous experience, for which they receive little or no care. When individuals are forced to withdraw and not provided MOUD, they also face a significantly increased risk of death upon release. This report examines the availability and accessibility of MOUD for incarcerated people in county jails across the state of Pennsylvania.
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