Availability of Health Care Services and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Carceral Facilities in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho

Objectives. To determine availability of health care services, treatment for acute alcohol and/or opioid withdrawal, and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in carceral facilities in the Northwest. Methods. We queried 146 county jail and state prison facilities in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho (122 respondents). Availability of services were calculated, and results reported by state and facility type. Results. Four-fifths (80.3%) reported providing health care services; 41% provide access to care 24 hours a day. Washington facilities reported the highest prevalence of treatment for acute alcohol and/or opioid withdrawal (90.7%) and MOUD (60.5%), followed by Oregon (90%, 32.5%) and Idaho (82.1%, 5.2%). All facilities that provide MOUD (n=41) reported providing buprenorphine; only one-third reported providing methadone. Conclusions. While facilities reported treatment for acute withdrawal from alcohol and/or opioids, there remains a lack of access to MOUD. Access to MOUD during incarceration reduces recidivism and overdose deaths and improves health outcomes.