Using Opioid Settlement Funds to Reduce Crime and Recidivism

Among the core strategies indicated for the proper utilization of the 2022 National Opioid Settlements is funding for the expansion of treatment programs for underserved populations, including justice-involved individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). The need to focus on effective treatment and support for this often-overlooked population is abundantly clear. 

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an estimated 65 percent of the United States prison population has an active SUD. An additional 20 percent, while they did not meet the criteria for an SUD, were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time they committed a crime. 

In addition, the Mortality Disparities in American Communities Study indicates that individuals who have been incarcerated are among those identified to be at greater risk of a fatal opioid overdose. 

Decades of research show that providing effective treatment to individuals during and following incarceration has a significant impact on both the individual and the societal crisis of SUD. This approach reduces overall crime and other drug-related societal burdens, including lost job productivity, family disintegration, and recidivism―a continual return to jail or prison. And it decreases the number of overdoses and deaths after individuals are released from the prison system. 

Yet, as few as 5% of incarcerated individuals with SUD are receiving treatment. 

There must be a fundamental change in how the justice system combats SUD among inmates. Equally important is access to sustained community recovery programs following release to foster long-term success. 

How Oklahoma is Making an Impact to Support its Justice-Involved Population 

When considering best practices, the State of Oklahoma represents a shining example in addressing the SUD crisis among the justice-involved population. 

Like many states across the U.S., Oklahoma has been experiencing a rise in the SUD crisis, and searching for approaches that would enhance access to essential resources and support. The challenge was made even more difficult by the shortage of healthcare professionals across the state’s widespread communities. 

In 2018, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) launched a promising pilot program in partnership with CHESS Health, the leading provider of evidence-based digital health solutions for SUD. The pilot was introduced through the Women In Recovery (WIR) program at Family & Children’s Services in Tulsa―an intensive outpatient alternative for eligible women who are facing long prison sentences for non-violent drug-related offenses. 

Through the pilot, women in the WIR program were given access to CHESS Health’s innovative eRecovery solution as an adjunct to the in-person SUD care they were receiving. This solution features the Connections smartphone app, a personalized virtual tool designed to reduce the isolation between care visits that often leads to relapse and help participants build critical connections, develop coping skills, celebrate successes, and avert crises.  

Through the Connections app, participants gained direct access to moderated peer support groups and on-demand cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This includes the around-the-clock availability of certified peer recovery support specialists―all with lived experience―who provide one-on-one support for individuals who may be feeling at risk for relapse, regardless of time or location.  

This clinically proven technology was widely embraced by the WIR community, with participants reporting the Connections app was especially helpful in supporting them to remain in treatment and on their recovery journey. The results were so impressive that in 2020, ODMHSAS expanded access to CHESS Health’s eRecovery solution across the entire State of Oklahoma. 

Technology Expands Access to Care 

Digital solutions for SUD, whether from a prevention or intervention, standpoint to treatment and recovery, remove the barriers to care created by geography and circumstance. These solutions are intended to reach people where they are and in the moments when support is needed most. The addition of digital tools that extend your reach and fill gaps in care is foundational to providing a comprehensive program.  

When paired with more traditional treatment approaches and when utilized to reach underserved communities, this technology can be a complete game-changer. It can be the key to amplifying the impact of opioid settlement dollars, particularly when focusing on communities deeply affected by the social determinants of health (SODH). 

Providing Access to Recovery for Justice-Involved Individuals 

Within the justice-involved population, many face significant obstacles in accessing essential support services for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment. Our society must prioritize access to tools that empower individuals to attain sustainable recovery. By doing so, we can foster equitable communities, decrease recidivism rates, and alleviate the societal costs associated with substance misuse.

The opioid settlement funding now available to combat the SUD crisis needs to reach a wide spectrum of individuals including those who are justice-involved, offering solutions that drive lasting transformation. Embracing established technology alongside traditional care practices is key to advancing our collective efforts in supporting justice-involved individuals on their path toward recovery and well-being.