A Dane County substance abuse recovery program for incarcerated people helped thousands in 2023.
The Medical Assistance Treatment (MAT) program, implemented in 2022 at the Dane County Jail, provided recovery services to 2,637 incarcerated individuals last year, according to a Dane County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.
Sheriff Kalvin Barrett first announced the MAT program in 2022 and has continued to sing its praises since.
“By nearly doubling the number of people receiving medication treatment in our jail in just over a year, we know the need for opioid treatment in our community is substantial,” Barrett said in a Feb. 5 press release. “It is programs like this that address the root cause of incarceration and help stop the vicious cycle of criminalizing addiction.”
Dane County Sheriff’s Office implemented the program in hopes of ensuring incarcerated individuals did not immediately re-enter prison upon their release, according to a 2022 press release.
“Our ultimate goal is to reduce recidivism. When we reduce recidivism, we reduce the jail population. By reducing the jail population, we decrease the crime rates,” Barrett said at a 2022 press conference. “By decreasing the crime rates, we increase public safety and we reduce criminal justice budgets.”
Dane County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Elise Schaffer said in a 2022 press release that inmates were not able receive medication or treatment for addiction once imprisoned in prior years, which interrupted their recovery.
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office turned to substance abuse treatment experts while promoting the MAT program. Dr. Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar was one such expert and specializes in studying addiction treatment program implementation.
Salisbury-Afshar stressed the dangers of halting substance abuse treatment for incarcerated individuals at the 2022 press conference.
“We know from research that this puts people at risk for multiple things. It reduces the chance that they re-enter treatment when they leave,” Salisbury-Afshar said. “It also increases their risk for resuming use and increases risk of overdose death.”
The MAT program served medicine to 269 residents in its first year, according to a Feb. 5, 2023 press release.
Inmates in the program received Subutex and Vivitrol, two prescription medications used for treating substance addiction.
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office has significant goals for the Madison area’s future regarding addiction recovery and believe the MAT program will aid with this, according to Schaffer.
“The individuals in our jail are typically there for a very short time, so maintaining their treatment plan during that time is crucial,” Schaffer told The Daily Cardinal.
Schaffer said officials believe the program will reduce recidivism and increase community safety.
