People deserve access to care that supports safe healing and recovery. At TK Health, that belief guides everything we do, including how we care for patients with substance use disorders in jails.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is the use of FDA-approved medications to treat opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. By offering MAT in correctional settings, TK Health helps patients minimize withdrawal symptoms, reduce the risk of overdose, and move into recovery.
What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)?
Medication-Assisted Treatment, also called Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), is the use of specific medications together to treat substance use disorders. TK Health’s program focuses on two key medications:
- Extended-Release Injectable Naltrexone, used to treat both opioid and alcohol use disorders.
- Buprenorphine/Naloxone, used to treat opioid use disorder.
These medications work by reducing cravings and preventing withdrawal symptoms, helping patients focus on recovery and stability. MAT is considered the standard of care for opioid and alcohol use disorders and is proven to improve recovery outcomes.
Benefits of MAT include:
- Reduces Cravings and Withdrawal Symptoms. MAT helps safely control the physical symptoms of withdrawal and reduces cravings.
- Lowers Risk of Overdose and Death. People who receive MAT are much less likely to experience an overdose.
- Treats Addiction as a Medical Condition. MAT helps reduce stigma by framing addiction as a treatable medical condition, not a moral failing.
- Improves Retention in Treatment. When patients feel physically and emotionally supported, they are more likely to stay engaged in long-term recovery. MAT improves treatment participation and overall success rates.
- Supports Mental and Emotional Stability. Substance use disorders affect the body and mind. MAT helps patients rebuild balance and emotional health, leading to fewer mental health crises and better overall health.
- Encourages Safer Reentry and Continuity of Care. For patients leaving jail, continuing MAT supports a smoother reentry and lowers the risk of relapse.
- Promotes a Healthier, Safer Environment. When patients receive the care they need, it creates a more stable and respectful environment within the jail.
Why MAT Matters in Jails
An estimated 63% of people in jail have a substance use disorder, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Without treatment, withdrawal and unmanaged symptoms can make recovery more difficult and increase health risks. Providing MAT during incarceration helps bridge that gap.
MAT is important in jails because it:
- Supports Health and Stability. Jails often serve as the first point of consistent healthcare for people with substance use disorders. MAT helps manage withdrawal symptoms, reduces cravings, and provides medical stability.
- Reduces Risk of Overdose After Release. The weeks immediately following release from jail are among the most dangerous for people with opioid or alcohol use disorders. After a period of abstinence, tolerance decreases, making overdose more likely if substance use resumes. Continuing or starting MAT during incarceration helps protect patients by reducing cravings and preparing them for safe reentry into the community.
- Builds Continuity of Care. TK Health’s MAT program works to connect patients to community treatment providers before release, helping ensure care continues without interruption.
- Creates a Safer Environment. The entire facility benefits when patients get the care they need. MAT contributes to calmer, more stable environments that support patient well-being and staff safety.
- Treats Addiction as a Medical Condition. Offering MAT in jails reinforces the understanding that addiction is a medical illness, not a personal failure. It means patients are treated with dignity and compassion.
- Builds Hope and Trust. For many patients, receiving MAT in jail is the first step toward lasting recovery. It shows that their health and future matter and that recovery is possible and worth pursuing.
Breaking Down Barriers to Care
Some people misunderstand what Medication Assisted Treatment really is. After all, it may seem counterproductive to treat substance use disorders with medication. In reality, MAT uses carefully prescribed, FDA-approved medications to help stabilize the brain and body so patients can focus on recovery.
Medications such as Buprenorphine/Naloxone and Extended-Release Injectable Naltrexone work in different ways. They help manage withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and block the effects of opioids or alcohol. This medical support keeps patients safe as they start thinking more clearly and begin rebuilding their health.
Substance use disorder is a chronic medical condition that affects the brain and behavior. Like other long-term health conditions, it often requires ongoing treatment that may include medication. Using medication as part of recovery is not a sign of weakness. It’s an evidence-based approach that helps patients regain control of their lives.
At TK Health, we believe in treating every patient with dignity and respect. By helping people understand the science and purpose of MAT, we can help to replace stigma with knowledge and judgment with compassion. Recovery begins when care is guided by understanding and trust.
Supporting Continuity of Care
Continuity of care is a core part of TK Health’s MAT program. From screening to release, our teams coordinate each step to maintain stability in treatment.
For patients already receiving MAT before jail, the TK Health team works to verify and continue that treatment. For new candidates, the program begins with medical screening and support.
Our process looks like this:
- Identification and Screening. At intake, nurses use medical questionnaires to identify patients with a history of opioid or alcohol use. Those patients may receive detox scoring and referrals to the MAT Counselor.
- Counseling and Consent. The MAT Counselor reviews the program with each patient, discusses expectations, and obtains consent for treatment and communication with community MAT providers, if or when necessary.
- Medical Evaluation. A healthcare provider reviews lab results, discusses treatment options, and prescribes medication when appropriate.
- Medication Administration. Nurses safely administer prescribed MAT medications and monitor the patient for side effects.
- Transition to Community Care. When the patient is ready for release, the team provides contact information for community resources to allow for continued services.
Meeting Every Patient with Compassion and Care
Medication-Assisted Treatment gives people with substance use disorders a real opportunity to heal. TK Health uses this evidence-based treatment to help patients in jails take meaningful steps toward recovery and improved health.
Every patient deserves care that treats addiction as the medical condition it is. Through our MAT program, we work to reduce stigma and understanding and to help people get well again.
