Senators Markey and Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Support Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in Correctional Facilities

Statement

Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) recently introduced the Community Re-Entry through Addiction Treatment to Enhance (CREATE) Opportunities Act, legislation to help expand access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) like Suboxone for justice-involved individuals. This legislation would create a new grant program within the Department of Justice for state and local governments to provide MAT in their correctional facilities. The program would require grantees to provide more than one MAT option and to develop a plan for connecting individuals to continued treatment upon release into the community. Data indicates recently released individuals are 129 times more likely to die from opioid overdose in first two weeks of release.

Companion legislation has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (NH-2).

"Our local jails are on the frontlines of the response to the nation's opioid overdose crisis," said Senator Markey. "Too often, our local jails witness some of the most devastating impacts of the opioid crisis, but don't have the resources to mount a robust and appropriate response. My bill would help change that. We know we cannot incarcerate our way out of this crisis. Instead, we must rehabilitate in order to reduce recidivism and save lives. Providing reliable access to evidence-based treatment within correctional facilities will help counties and states respond to this crisis like the public health issue that it is. I thank Senator Murkowski and Representative Kuster for their partnership in this endeavor."

"Opioid use has skyrocketed in Alaska. And for those struggling with opioid abuse or a mental health disorder who are in the criminal justice system, the transition from incarceration into their community can be incredibly difficult. To truly break the vicious cycle of substance abuse, we must ensure those incarcerated have a path to treatment," said Senator Murkowski. "By combining access to approved medications in combination with behavioral health therapy, we're not just decreasing the rate of relapses, re-incarcerations, and overdoses, we're giving those in the criminal justice system hope for a future that isn't dictated by substance abuse."

"Too many incarcerated individuals in our jails suffer from untreated mental health and substance use disorder, and most lack access to the treatment they need," said Rep. Kuster. "Medication assisted treatment (MAT) has an important role to play in helping incarcerated individuals suffering from substance use disorder recover and reclaim their lives to become productive, contributing members of our society. Reducing recidivism is a win for our communities: it's good for public safety, public health, and budgets. The CREATE Opportunities Act is commonsense legislation to provide a commonsense solution to put an end to the cycle between addiction and the criminal justice system."

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