BEST PRACTICES AND GUIDELINES FOR JAIL-BASED MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)—utilizing the FDA-approved medications methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone—is considered a central component of the contemporary standard of care for the treatment of individuals with opioid use disorders.

Best Practices

• Determine enrollment - Individuals should be clinically assessed for substance abuse disorders and recommended treatments.
• Determine the correct treatment - Shared decision making and regular testing should be used to inform treatment.  
• Consider pregnant women - Pregnant women require specialized treatment.
• Partnerships and support services - Couple MAT with other services and collaborative relationships.
• Have the right program components - Assemble the right team, safeguards, protocols, and structure for success.
• Client screening - Client screening is important for addressing treatment continuation, withdrawal, and relapse.  
• Facilitate health care coverage - Engage Medicaid and postrelease financial assistance.

The full resource can be downloaded below.