Friedmann, P. D., Hoskinson, R., Gordon, M., Schwartz, R., Kinlock, T., Knight, K., Flynn, P. M., Welsh, W. N., Stein, L. A., Sacks, S., O’Connell, D. J., Knudsen, H. K., Shafer, M. S., Hall, E., Frisman, L. K., & Mat Working Group Of CJ-Dats (2012). Medication-assisted treatment in criminal justice agencies affiliated with the criminal justice-drug abuse treatment studies (CJ-DATS): availability, barriers, and intentions. Substance abuse, 33(1), 9–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/08897077.2011.611460 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22263709/ 

This article presents a study that surveyed criminal justice agencies affiliated with the Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJ-DATS) to assess use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and factors influencing use of MAT. The authors found that factors influencing use of MAT included criminal justice preferences for drug-free treatment, limited knowledge of the benefits of MAT, security concerns, regulations prohibiting use of MAT for certain agencies, and lack of qualified medical staff. This is a useful resource for justice professionals and anyone else interested in understanding the various ways in which different criminal justice agencies perceive use of MAT in correctional facilities. 

Bottom Line: This study found that lack of knowledge about MOUD, preference for abstinence-focused recovery, and lack of funding for community treatment programs effected access to MOUD for individuals involved in the criminal justice system.