Behavioral Health

MAT in Jails and Prisons

Individuals leaving incarceration without access to effective treatment for opioid use disorder are between 40 and 129 times more likely to die from an overdose—a staggering and preventable reality.

This urgent issue led the Steadman Group to study Rhode Island’s groundbreaking approach to providing treatment behind bars.

A smiling young man with a shaved head, wearing a blue T-shirt, sits in a circle of chairs during a group session with other participants in matching blue shirts.

Motivated by what we learned, our team advocated for similar investments in Colorado. As a result, the state Department of Corrections secured well over ten million dollars in funding, with additional millions allocated to expand behavioral health services in local jails, marking a critical step toward saving lives and improving reentry outcomes.

Since then, our work has helped dozens of jails and prisons find and fund their Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) programs. We provide education, training, and policies for such programs, interfacing with states, counties, and correctional health providers. In addition, we have written dozens of grants toward the goal of better treatment for substance use disorders in correctional settings.