Westmoreland prison蘑菇视频 Vivitrol program has successful inaugural year
Westmoreland County Prison’s pilot Vivitrol program has had such a successful first year, prison officials and partners are looking to start a second group in the near future.
Colleen Hughes, director of the Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commissioner (WeDAC), delivered the encouraging news to prison board members at their regular meeting Monday.
The prison’s pilot Vivitrol program started on July 1, 2018, through a partnership between the prison, WeDAC, Allied Addiction Recovery LLC, and Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services Drug and Alcohol Case Management Unit.
Vivitrol is a form of medicated assisted treatment that assists individuals who have opioid use disorders by reducing cravings. Inmates with an alcohol use disorder are also eligible.
In the first year, 26 men and 36 women were screened for the program and 13 men and 31 women were admitted into the program, which provided individual and group sessions to participants.
According to Hughes, eligible inmates received a drug and alcohol assessment by SPHS and if clinically appropriate, they were referred to AAR to participate in outpatient treatment services while still incarcerated.
“Upon successful completion of the group process, medically cleared inmates also receive an injection of Vivitrol upon reentry (to society),” said Hughes.
Sixteen individuals received an injection before being released – 11 were in outpatient and five in inpatient treatment. Hughes reported that 40% of the outpatient discharges were still in treatment after 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, and over 90 days after being discharged. Of the inpatient discharges, 100% were still in residential treatment after 30 days and 80% received an injection while still in residential treatment.
Hughes said that through this first year, variables and issues were discovered and soon representatives will meet with county criminal court judges to work through the processes, so that the program continues to improve year after year.
“Overall, it’s been a very successful jail pilot program,” said Hughes.
In fact, Hughes said now that the word is out about the program, enough inmates are interested to warrant a second group.
Warden John Walton said prison officials have discussed utilizing the gymnasium to start a second class.
Commissioner Ted Kopas questioned the status of the 60% who didn’t stick with treatment. Did they end up back in jail?
Hughes responded that’s actually the next phase of the process – to study the recidivism rate for those that did not complete treatment to determine what steps can be taken to assist those individuals.
“It’s a great start,” said Kopas.
In a related matter, Walton said the prison has received a request from another company that provides medically assisted treatment to begin a pilot program at the prison. Representatives from Baymark Health Services, based in Texas, will come to meet with members of the prison board and criminal court judges to discuss the program in August.