The Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project has releaseed a new report entitled Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in Pennsylvania Jails and Prisons.

The goal of this study was to understand the availability of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in the 62 county jails across Pennsylvania. MOUD refers to three FDA-approved medications: methadone, buprenorphine (frequently referred to as Suboxone), and naltrexone (frequently referred to as Vivitrol).

The MOUD policies and practices for all 62 county jails in Pennsylvania was gathered through Right-to-Know Requests, communications with incarcerated people, and other publicly available sources of information.

Key findings from the report include:  

• Only 3 of the 62 facilities in the state allow individuals with OUD to initiate treatment with agonist medications, such as buprenorphine and methadone. 
• Less than one-third of jails – 18 facilities in total – even allow most individuals who enter the jail with an active, verified prescription for agonist MOUD to continue their treatment.  

In more than 70% of Pennsylvania jails, people with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) are limited to ineffective treatment options and potentially forced to endure withdrawal, a painful and medically dangerous experience for which they receive little or no care.  

After reviewing the availability and issues related to provision of MOUD in Pennsylvania’s jails, this report makes recommendations as to how jails and prisons can improve access to this necessary medical treatment.

View the Report