The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office has been committed to implementing procedures in an attempt to be as prepared as possible for the current opioid overdose epidemic that plagues our country. In addition to our Naloxone (Narcan) programs, which have proven to be life-saving, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office has continued to monitor the growing epidemic and understands the importance of implementing programs that are proactive, preventative and extend beyond an emergency response.
Along with three community based Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs), and the medical vendor for the Detention Facility; the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office is able to implement a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program. Having a MAT program in place means that opioid-addicted inmates who had been receiving treatment at a partnering OTP prior to their detention will no longer be placed on a withdrawal protocol. Instead, the detention facility’s medical vendor will be able to administer verified MAT-related medication, such as Methadone, Suboxone, or Naltrexone.
Most inmates spend little time at the Sheriff’s Office Detention Facility. Participating in the MAT program at the facility better facilitates the transition back into a treatment program when they are released. Without this type of program, inmates who had been on a MAT-related medication prior to incarceration are at an increased risk of an accidental opioid-related overdose upon their release from custody, often related to a decrease in their tolerance level for opioids during incarceration.
The MAT program is yet another way we are enhancing the delivery of medical care within the Detention Facility. We are proud of the relationships we have built with our community partners, including the Office of Behavioral Health, Correct Care Solutions, Tri-County Health Department and our three partnering OTPs (Addiction Research and Treatment Services, Denver Recovery Group and Behavioral Health Group). Together, we are working to help those already seeking treatment to continue on the path to sobriety.
E N D
View PDF of release