Initiatives

  1. Medication Assisted Treatment
  2. Smart Justice
  3. Stepping Up
  4. Substance Abuse
  5. Trauma Informed Care

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)


Correctional Health Services (CHS) provides medical services for over 7,000 patients in 6 jails. 4 of those jails have Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) certification.

Continuity Methadone Treatment
Estrella, Lower Buckeye, Towers, and 4th Avenue jails currently provide continuity methadone treatment for patients who were already enrolled in a methadone program in the community, prior to arrest.

Because of this, patients no longer need to have their methadone stopped when they get arrested, likely reducing relapses of opioid abuse, upon release to the community. In addition, methadone is provided to pregnant patients who are opioid dependent, in order to protect the fetus.

Court Collaboration

CHS also works in collaboration with the drug courts to offer Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) to patients suffering from opioid dependence, in which those at high risk for opioid relapse are started on methadone in jail.

The Opioid Treatment Program includes administration of methadone, mental health counseling, and discharge planning.

All of these components are integral to a successful program, in an effort to prevent future relapse on opioids.