title: Medication assisted treatment in US drug courts: results from a nationwide survey of availability, barriers and attitudes.
abstract: Drug treatment courts are an increasingly important tool in reducing the census of those incarcerated for non-violent drug offenses; medication assisted treatment (MAT) is proven to be an effective treatment for opioid addiction. However, little is known about the availability of and barriers to MAT provision for opioid-addicted people under drug court jurisdiction. Using an online survey, we assessed availability, barriers, and need for MAT (especially agonist medication) for opioid addiction in drug courts. Ninety-eight percent reported opioid-addicted participants, and 47% offered agonist medication (56% for all MAT including naltrexone). Barriers included cost and court policy. Responses revealed significant uncertainty, especially among non-MAT providing courts. Political, judicial and administrative opposition appear to affect MAT's inconsistent use and availability in drug court settings. These data suggest that a substantial, targeted educational initiative is needed to increase awareness of the treatment and criminal justice benefits of MAT in the drug courts.
authors.affiliation: National Development and Research Institutes, New York, NY 10010, USA. matusow@ndri.org
authors.forename: Harlan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matusow
authors.forename: Samuel L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dickman
authors.forename: Josiah D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.forename: Chunki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Dora M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hardin
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marlowe
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
mesh_terms: D003416:Criminal Law; D003625:Data Collection; D055030:Drug Users / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D008691:Methadone