Criminal Justice Medication Assisted Treatment Initiative: Piloting the long-acting opioid antagonist, Vivitrol

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

The nationally recognized opioid addiction epidemic has significantly impacted Suffolk County and war-rants a concerted and comprehensive effort to reduce the individual and social costs associated with this behavioural health problem. A substantial percentage of the incarcerated population in Suffolk County have misused opioids. Effective treatment of substance use disorders has been demonstrated to reduce rates of recidivism for individuals whose criminal activity is driven by their addiction. Vivitrol®, a long-acting formulation of the narcotic antagonist, naltrexone, has been demonstrated to reduce the frequency of opioid administration and shows promise for supporting sobriety while patients engage in treatment and develop the skills and resources required to initiate and sustain recovery. In collaboration with the Suffolk County Executive’s Office, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, and Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Health Services developed and implemented a Vivitrol® program. The program identifies incarcerated individuals, and defendants who participate in court diversion pro-grams, who are in need of assistance with avoiding re-involvement with opioid use following release, providing them with education regarding treatment alternatives, and for patients expressing an interest, providing a referral for post-release treatment which includes on-going use of Vivitrol® as well as an ini-tial injection of Vivitrol® prior to their release.