By Ron Fonger
mlive.com
GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. — Seventy-eight Genesee County Jail inmates have been enrolled in a medical treatment program since officials started dispensing prescription drugs as an alternative to detoxing with minimal help while incarcerated.
The county Board of Commissioners accepted a $250,000 grant from the Michigan State Police in late October to help start the program and added $62,500 in county opioid lawsuit settlement funds.
Through the program, the Sheriff’s Office is increasing inmate access to Suboxone, Sublocade and Brixadi, prescription drugs commonly used to treat opioid use disorders.
In January, the first jail inmates were enrolled in the program and last week, the county agreed to contract with New Paths to provide program coordination and medication.
“It’s vital to both our community and to running a safe, secure facility,” said Capt. David Kennamer, jail administrator for the Sheriff’s Office.
In addition to inmates already on a treatment plan for medicated opioid use disorder when they arrive at the jail, the county is allowing those without a treatment program to start one while incarcerated.
Previously, new inmates with addictions went through a medical intake at the jail, their health was monitored, and they were given limited help with medications to ease withdrawal symptoms regardless of the type of addiction.
Those withdrawals can last from a few days to several weeks, putting strain on jail employees who monitor the detoxes and putting the inmates’ health at risk.
Kennamer said those coming into the jail are interviewed at intake, then by medical personnel, and once again before they are classified to determine if they want the help.
“You don’t have to start (the program) out in the world,” he said. “When you’re in jail, sometimes that’s the best place to start the recovery of your life.”
Commissioners unanimously agreed to the contract with New Paths on March 12 .
The initial term of the contract runs through Sept. 30, but it can be extended up to three additional one-year terms.
Funding supports the cost of a coordinator, drug screening and medication costs, and personnel to coordinate outreach and treatment.
In addition to the jail-based treatment, the program calls for peer recovery coaching as well as individualized aftercare plans with each participant before their release from jail.
Although opioid settlement funds are being used, the program isn’t closed to individuals with multiple or different drug addictions.
The largest cost of the New Paths contract covers the cost Sublocade, a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderate to severe addiction to opioids.
County officials heard what Commissioner Dale Weighill, D- Flint Twp ., called “horror stories” about inmates who have previously been required to detox in jail when the MSP grant was accepted last year.
“There are inmates in our jail who (didn’t) have access to this, who (lived) in total misery as a result of having to detox while they incarcerated,” Weighill said on Wednesday.
Commissioners asked officials involved in the program to provide them with further updates on the program, and Weighill said he’s interested in investing further in it if it proves to be successful.
County officials have said at least 65% of the jail’s population has mental health, substance abuse or both issues when they enter the facility.
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