Drug addiction treatment that provides pharmacological assistance in getting through the detox process can be of huge benefit to a number of patients. Unfortunately, access to this type of treatment is difficult to obtain in many parts of the country, even when drug courts are available to help those who are most resistant to medical care for addiction treatment. Why aren’t courts remanding offenders who commit drug-related crimes to treatment that includes medication like methadone or Suboxone if it would be of benefit? A new study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment investigated the issue.

The Study

Surveys were submitted to drug courts across the country in order to better ascertain what exactly was stopping them from ordering medication-assisted treatment. The responses revealed a number of issues including:

• Lack of availability of medication-assisted treatment
• High cost of medication-assisted treatment per person
• Court policy against the use of medication-assisted treatment as a recommendation of drug court
• Opposition to medication-assisted treatment from political or administrative factions

Though 98 percent of courts reported that many of the offenders they dealt with were addicted to opiates like heroin and painkillers and therefore would benefit from medication like Suboxone and methadone in the context of treatment, it was clear that most faced barriers to offering that particular treatment option in their court system.

Should Medication-Assisted Treatment Be Included as an Option in Drug Court?

Many believe that drug courts could be more effective if they made sure to offer a wide range of treatment options to patients in order to ensure a personalized treatment experience that improved their chances of a successful recovery. It’s no surprise that a government-run entity like the court system would be heavily limited by red tape, public and political opinion, financial support, and a huge number of people to serve with minimal resources. Whether or not medication-assisted treatment should be included as an option in drug court, it’s clear that we are years away from that possibility for a number of reasons.

Opiate Addiction Treatment

If opiate dependence upon heroin or opiate painkillers like OxyContin or hydrocodone is a problem that is hurting your loved one, private drug rehab can offer the treatment options necessary to heal – including medication options in detox. Call us at Axis today and discuss the different therapeutic and pharmacological interventions that are available to help your loved one overcome opiate addiction.