Agenda Item Request:
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Authorization for the Sheriff’s Office to submit a grant application to the Maine Recovery Council for Medically Assisted Treatment Funding.
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Background and Purpose of Request:
Requestor: Courtney George, Sheriff’s Office
On June 6, 2024, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office submitted a letter of intent to the Maine Recovery Council for funding to start a new Sublocade program at the Cumberland County Jail. The Cumberland County Jail has long been described as the largest mental health and drug detoxification facility in the State of Maine. With a current inmate population of 315 inmates, 40% of the population is currently on MAT.
MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) is the gold standard for treating Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Sublocade is a newer option for MAT and is a 30 day long acting injectable version of Buprenorphine-Naloxone. It should be included as a treatment option for any individual with OUD, but in particular the incarcerated population due to the high rates of relapse and barriers to other treatment options. The current rate of individuals with an OUD in the correctional justice system is 40%, and overdose rates are 10 times higher upon an inmates first two weeks post-release.
The period post-incarceration is the highest risk of overdose, and we hope to provide support upon release until that individual can find additional resources and care outside the jail setting. Current recovery resources are challenging to access in the immediate post-release time period. For example, there can be delays in MaineCare being activated, setting up appointments at medical offices, and/or receiving prescription medications at pharmacies. Transportation and housing barriers can make accessing centers and other support services challenging, especially for those who reside in rural settings. Having Sublocade already in the inmate’s system as part of a treatment plan will allow them an opportunity to overcome treatment immediately after release.
With Sublocade, an individual will have the medication in their system during this high-risk period to decrease their likelihood of overdose and death. Currently, the Cumberland County Jail is dispensing the Buprenorphine-Naloxone and Methadone out of a jail budget that is lean and does not have a specific line for MAT. We are currently utilizing our general pharmaceutical line to purchase MAT medications, and the cost of each Sublocade injection is prohibitive to our ability to use it at this time. With these grant funds we would be able to offer Sublocade as part of a more fully comprehensive MAT treatment program.
Funding Amount and Source:
Grant request through the Maine Recovery Council:
Amount of Funding Requested Year 1: $360,000.00
Amount of Funding Requested Year 2: $360,000.00
Total Funding Amount Requested: $720,000.00
Effective Date if Applicable: End of September 2024