The Opioid Epidemic in America: Managing Opioid Use Disorder in Jails

Jails are at ground zero of the epidemic. More than 30% of people incarcerated in jails suffer from serious opioid withdrawal and often have little to no control over opioid use. Individuals are brought in directly from the street, often actively under the influence of opioids and/or actively withdrawing from opioid use. Left untreated, there are risks to the patient's safety, risks to facility staff due to the potential for a critical incident, and potential liability for the facility.