Collaborating to Address Substance Use Disorder in Correctional Settings

Abstract

For years, advocates in Rhode Island, including many individuals on staff at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, envisioned a criminal justice system that did not perpetuate the crises of substance use disorder and overdose and instead helped address them thought treatment and recovery supports. In 2016, the state’s corrections department introduced the first statewide correctional system medication-assisted treatment program in the country to initiate a comprehensive program to screen for opioid use disorder. The program is demonstrating successful results. Continued public health and corrections collaboration lay the groundwork for additional innovations in program implementation, including the Rhode Island Department of Health’s focus on health equity and the social determinants of health. This chapter shares the Rhode Island experience as a potential model for other state programs.