Extended-release (XR) medications for substance use disorders (SUDs) can significantly improve outcomes for individuals in or recently released from the criminal justice system (CJS) by promoting treatment adherence, reducing substance use, and lowering recidivism. These long-acting options reduce the burden of daily dosing, but also present challenges like high costs, limited access, side effects, and ethical concerns such as coerced treatment or inequitable availability. Successful use of XR medications requires strong family support, self-management skills, and coordinated community resources, including reentry clinics, peer support, and housing programs to ensure continuity of care and sustained recovery.
Bridging Incarceration and Recovery: How Extended-Release Medications Support Reentry Success
Extended-release medications (XR) for substance use disorders (SUDs) offer a powerful tool to support individuals involved in or recently released from the criminal justice system (CJS). These long-acting treatments—including extended-release naltrexone, buprenorphine, and injectable medications for alcohol use disorder—promote sustained engagement in care, lower relapse risk, and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
🔄 Improved Treatment Adherence
- Individuals leaving incarceration often face barriers to routine medical care, such as housing instability, transportation issues, and lack of health insurance.
- XR medications eliminate the need for daily dosing, reducing logistical burdens and improving treatment retention.
- With monthly or multi-week formulations, XR options maintain therapeutic effects during high-risk periods—especially the first weeks after release, when overdose risk peaks.
💊 Reduced Substance Use
- XR formulations provide consistent blood levels, helping reduce cravings and prevent relapse.
- Examples include:
- Extended-release naltrexone, which blocks opioid and alcohol effects and discourages use.
- XR buprenorphine, which activates opioid receptors in a controlled, long-acting way with minimal diversion risk.
- These medications also create stability, allowing individuals to better engage in behavioral therapies and social services.
🚫 Lower Recidivism Rates
- Substance use is a key driver of re-incarceration.
- By reducing relapse and supporting recovery, XR medications help decrease behaviors that lead to criminal charges.
- Research shows people who receive XR medications after release experience fewer arrests, lower drug test failures, and longer periods in the community without reoffending.
🧩 Integrated Support Is Key
- XR medications are most effective when combined with reentry planning, peer support, housing assistance, and behavioral health services.
- Starting treatment before release and maintaining continuity of care through community-based providers significantly improves long-term outcomes.
In summary. Extended-release medications provide a critical bridge between incarceration and community reintegration. By promoting adherence, reducing substance use, and lowering recidivism, they support a healthier, more stable return to society—and a greater chance at sustained recovery.
Barriers to Extended-Release Medications in the Criminal Justice System: Challenges and Considerations
While extended-release (XR) medications for substance use disorders (SUDs) offer significant promise—particularly for individuals involved in the criminal justice system (CJS)—they also present several challenges that may limit their effectiveness, accessibility, or ethical application.
⚖️ 1. Limited Access and Availability in Correctional Settings
- Many jails and prisons do not offer XR medications due to financial constraints, lack of infrastructure, or stigma.
- There is often poor care coordination upon release, leading to disruptions in treatment continuity.
- Staff training and medical oversight are frequently insufficient for safe, effective administration of injectable therapies.
💰 2. High Cost
- XR formulations like injectable naltrexone or buprenorphine are often more expensive than daily oral or sublingual alternatives.
- Correctional systems and public health programs may face budget limitations, making large-scale XR implementation difficult.
- Insurance gaps post-release can delay or prevent individuals from receiving follow-up doses in the community.
🧪 3. Medical Eligibility and Tolerability
- Not all individuals qualify for XR treatment:
- XR naltrexone requires a detox period before initiation, which can be difficult to achieve in practice.
- XR buprenorphine may not be suitable for individuals with certain health issues or sensitivities.
- Potential side effects include injection site reactions, elevated liver enzymes, and possible withdrawal symptoms.
🧍♂️ 4. Reduced Flexibility and Patient Autonomy
- Once administered, XR medications cannot be easily reversed or adjusted.
- This limits the ability to respond to side effects or changes in treatment goals.
- Incarcerated individuals may feel pressured or coerced into certain treatments, further reducing patient autonomy in an already controlled environment.
🔄 5. Risk of Overreliance on Medication Alone
- XR medications may be insufficient without additional support, such as therapy, housing, peer mentoring, and case management.
- Some facilities adopt a “medication-only” model that overlooks the complex emotional, psychological, and social roots of addiction.
🧑⚖️ 6. Stigma and Systemic Resistance
- Within CJS settings, some staff or administrators view medication-assisted treatment (MAT)—especially XR forms—as “replacing one drug with another.”
- This misconception fuels stigma, leading to underutilization or poor treatment of individuals on MAT, both during incarceration and after release.
In summary, while XR medications for SUDs hold great potential in criminal justice settings, challenges remain. Limited access, high cost, medical restrictions, reduced autonomy, and stigma can all hinder their success. For XR options to be effective, they must be part of a comprehensive recovery strategy that includes informed consent, care coordination, and robust psychosocial support during and after incarceration.
Ethical Dilemmas of Extended-Release Medications in the Criminal Justice System: Balancing Care, Consent, and Control
The use of extended-release (XR) medications for treating substance use disorders (SUDs) in individuals involved in or recently released from the criminal justice system (CJS) presents several complex ethical dilemmas. These challenges center on questions of informed consent, autonomy, equity, and systemic practices that may undermine effective and just care.
⚖️ 1. Informed Consent and Autonomy
- Ethical Dilemma: Are individuals genuinely free to choose XR medications, or are they subtly coerced by conditional release terms, limited alternatives, or pressure from legal authorities?
- In power-imbalanced settings like jails or probation, people may feel obligated to accept treatment to secure release or favorable legal outcomes.
- Ensuring truly informed and voluntary consent is difficult when individuals may not fully understand risks or feel they can refuse.
🧍♂️ 2. Reduced Flexibility After Administration
- Once administered (e.g., as a monthly injection), XR medications cannot be easily adjusted or stopped.
- This presents ethical concerns around ongoing autonomy, particularly if the individual experiences side effects or has a change in treatment preference.
⚖️ 3. Unequal Access and Justice
- XR medications are often costly and unavailable in many jails, prisons, or underserved communities.
- This results in inequities in access, where treatment is distributed unequally based on geography, race, or funding.
- Violates the ethical principle of justice and equitable healthcare access.
🧪 4. Medical Appropriateness vs. Institutional Convenience
- Some institutions may favor XR medications for logistical ease, not necessarily based on clinical best practices for the individual.
- This prioritizes institutional convenience over patient-centered care, raising concerns about medical ethics and patient rights.
- Individuals may not be offered more suitable daily or sublingual treatment alternatives.
💊 5. Over-Medicalization Without Holistic Support
- XR medications alone cannot address housing insecurity, trauma, mental health conditions, or unemployment.
- Ethical concern: Are we merely treating symptoms, rather than addressing the full scope of recovery?
- Recovery requires wraparound services, not just pharmacological intervention.
🏛️ 6. Use in Coercive Legal Settings
- Courts or probation officers may mandate XR medications as a condition of release or compliance, even when individuals prefer other options.
- Substituting legal mandates for clinical decision-making undermines patient dignity and trust.
- This turns medical treatment into a tool of legal control rather than therapeutic care.
🧠 7. Lack of Long-Term Follow-Up
- XR medications wear off in weeks or months. Without post-release follow-up, individuals face elevated risks of relapse or overdose.
- Ethically, initiating treatment without a clear continuity-of-care plan can result in more harm than benefit.
✅ In Summary
| Ethical Dilemma | Core Concern |
|---|---|
| Informed Consent | Coercion vs. true choice in legal settings |
| Autonomy | Inability to stop or adjust treatment after administration |
| Equity | Uneven access based on geography, race, or funding |
| Institutional Convenience | Use of XR meds for facility ease rather than patient best interest |
| Over-Medicalization | Treating addiction without addressing housing, trauma, or support |
| Legal Mandates | Using treatment as a legal compliance tool rather than clinical care |
| Continuity of Care | Ethical risks of abrupt treatment termination post-release |
In summary, while XR medications can be a powerful tool in addiction recovery, their use in the criminal justice system must be handled with ethical care and safeguards. Respecting autonomy, ensuring informed choice, addressing systemic inequities, and integrating holistic support are essential to using these treatments both effectively and justly.
Self-Management Strategies for Extended-Release Medications After Incarceration: A Practical Guide to Recovery
Extended-release (XR) medications for substance use disorders (SUDs) offer a valuable bridge to recovery for individuals recently released from the criminal justice system (CJS). While these medications reduce cravings and support biological stability, long-term success depends heavily on self-management strategies that empower individuals to take an active role in their recovery.
Here are evidence-informed self-management strategies for people using XR medications after incarceration:
🧠 1. Understand Your Medication
- Learn how your XR medication works:
- XR naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids and alcohol.
- XR buprenorphine reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
- Know the duration of action, common side effects, and what to do if a dose is missed.
- Keep a medication card or journal, and ask questions during appointments.
📝 Tip: Use a phone calendar or notebook to track your next injection date.
📅 2. Plan for Continuity of Care
- Identify a community provider who can administer your medication before release.
- Schedule your first post-release appointment early to avoid treatment gaps.
- Keep and share discharge paperwork or medication history with your new provider.
📍 Tip: Ask reentry programs or harm reduction teams for help finding a local clinic.
🚶 3. Build a Daily Routine
- Create a structured schedule including:
- Sleep and meals
- Medication tracking
- Recovery group meetings
- Job training, work, or volunteer activities
- A routine provides stability, and XR medication helps you stay grounded while building new habits.
🧘 4. Develop Healthy Coping Skills
- Learn tools for handling cravings, stress, and emotional triggers:
- Deep breathing, grounding exercises
- Journaling or creative expression
- Talking to a peer or sponsor
- Remember: XR medications help biologically, but behavioral tools help sustain recovery.
🧑⚕️ 5. Stay Engaged in Follow-Up Care
- Attend appointments not only for your injection but also for:
- Mental health counseling
- Primary medical care
- Peer coaching or recovery support
- These visits help track progress, manage side effects, and decide when (or if) to transition off medication.
👥 6. Join Peer Recovery or Support Groups
- Peer support helps reduce isolation and strengthens recovery.
- Look for MAT-friendly spaces such as:
- SMART Recovery
- Harm reduction groups
- NA/AA groups that welcome XR medication users
💬 7. Communicate with Support Systems
- Be open (when it feels safe) with:
- Family members
- Mentors
- Case managers or parole officers
- Sharing your goals and challenges builds a circle of accountability and encouragement.
📉 8. Recognize and Prepare for High-Risk Situations
- Plan ahead for challenging moments, such as:
- Being around drug use
- Feeling isolated or overwhelmed
- Facing emotional triggers
- Work with your provider or peer coach to build a relapse prevention plan that includes steps to take if cravings or stress increase.
✅ In Summary: Self-Management Strategies for XR MAT
| Strategy | Action |
|---|---|
| Learn about your medication | Understand its effects, side effects, and schedule |
| Secure continuity of care | Make appointments and organize your medical records |
| Build structure and routine | Create a consistent daily schedule to support recovery |
| Use healthy coping tools | Practice stress relief, grounding, and peer connection |
| Engage in follow-up care | Stay active in counseling and medical checkups |
| Join peer support | Find MAT-friendly recovery groups and community spaces |
| Communicate with supports | Talk openly with people who support your sobriety |
| Plan for risky situations | Develop a relapse prevention and crisis plan |
In summary, self-management puts power and stability back in your hands. When combined with extended-release medications and community support, these strategies can help justice-involved individuals not only avoid relapse—but thrive in recovery.
How Families Can Support Extended-Release Medications in Addiction Recovery After Incarceration
Families play a vital role in supporting individuals receiving extended-release (XR) medications for substance use disorders (SUDs)—particularly those involved with or returning from the criminal justice system (CJS). With the right knowledge, tools, and involvement, families can help ensure continuity of care, improve treatment outcomes, and encourage long-term recovery.
Here are practical family strategies to support XR medication use:
🧠 1. Learn About XR Medications and How They Work
- Educate yourself about XR naltrexone (Vivitrol) and XR buprenorphine (Sublocade)—their effects, benefits, side effects, and how they’re administered.
- Understanding XR options versus daily MAT helps you better advocate for treatment that fits your loved one’s unique needs.
📚 Tip: Use trusted resources like SAMHSA, NIDA, or local MAT programs for reliable information.
🤝 2. Support Informed and Voluntary Decision-Making
- Encourage your loved one to weigh their options and make the final decision themselves.
- Respect their autonomy, especially if they’re under court or correctional pressure.
💬 What to say:
“I’m here to support whatever path feels right for you—not to pressure you into any specific choice.”
🧾 3. Help Navigate Access and Continuity of Care
- Assist with:
- Scheduling appointments
- Transportation
- Insurance or Medicaid enrollment
- Identify MAT-friendly providers ahead of your loved one’s release.
- Advocate for a reentry plan that includes referral to a provider who can continue XR treatment.
📍 Tip: Contact local health departments or reentry services to locate providers and support programs.
🏠 4. Create a Stable, Supportive Home Environment
XR medications work best when paired with routine, stability, and positive social support. You can help by:
- Encouraging daily routines
- Supporting access to mental health services
- Rebuilding healthy relationships and connections
🧘 Support can look like helping with job applications, joining therapy sessions, or preparing meals together.
⚖️ 5. Advocate for MAT in Criminal Justice Settings
- Speak up if jails, courts, or probation officers deny or discourage MAT—especially if your loved one requests it.
- Reach out to legal aid organizations or file complaints with civil rights offices when necessary.
📣 Action Step: Join advocacy networks working for MAT access in justice-involved populations.
🧑🏫 6. Participate in Family Education or Recovery Programs
- Enroll in programs focused on addiction science, communication skills, and relapse prevention.
- These programs build shared understanding and help families heal and grow together.
👥 Check with recovery centers, reentry coalitions, or harm reduction groups for family-focused offerings.
🧾 7. Track and Monitor Progress (Without Controlling)
- Help track important dates like injection appointments, but avoid nagging or shaming.
- Offer to accompany them to appointments if they’d like the support.
🔄 Use digital reminders and celebrate each treatment milestone—every step counts.
✅ In Summary: Family Support Strategies for XR MAT
| Strategy | Family Role |
|---|---|
| Educate yourself | Learn how XR medications work and how they support recovery |
| Encourage autonomy | Support your loved one’s right to choose their own path |
| Assist with continuity | Help navigate logistics like scheduling, transportation, and care |
| Provide a stable home | Create structure, emotional support, and healthy routines |
| Advocate for MAT access | Speak out against MAT discrimination in the justice system |
| Join family education | Participate in programs to build understanding and resilience |
| Monitor supportively | Track progress with reminders and positive reinforcement |
In summary, your involvement can make the difference between relapse and sustained recovery. By staying informed, offering judgment-free support, and advocating when needed, families become essential allies in healing and transformation.
7 Community Resource Strategies to Support XR Medication Use After Incarceration
Implementing extended-release (XR) medications—like Vivitrol or Sublocade—for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) recently released from the criminal justice system (CJS) can be a life-saving intervention. However, success depends not just on access to medication, but on a strong community infrastructure that ensures continuity, reduces relapse, and supports long-term recovery.
Here are seven evidence-informed community resource strategies to maximize outcomes for people on XR medications post-incarceration:
🏥 1. Establish MAT-Friendly Reentry Clinics and Navigation Services
- Set up or expand reentry health clinics that provide XR injections and offer wraparound services like primary care, housing linkage, and behavioral health support.
- Employ peer navigators or case managers to assist with scheduling, transportation, and insurance.
Example: Transitional clinics near jails or probation offices can offer first doses and link individuals to long-term care.
🚌 2. Offer Mobile Health and XR MAT Services
- Deploy mobile units equipped to deliver XR medication in rural or underserved areas.
- Collaborate with shelters, halfway houses, and supervision agencies to bring low-barrier care directly to those who need it.
Mobile outreach reduces stigma and improves access for those facing transportation or trust barriers.
🧑⚕️ 3. Train and Incentivize Community Providers
- Increase the number of certified providers who can administer XR medications.
- Offer funding and technical assistance to community clinics, FQHCs, behavioral health providers, and urgent care centers.
Tip: Use Medicaid waivers, opioid settlement funds, or state grants to support MAT expansion.
🤝 4. Build Cross-Sector Reentry Coalitions
- Form local task forces that unite corrections, public health, treatment providers, housing programs, and advocacy groups.
- Coordinate reentry plans that include MAT access, mental health services, and legal aid.
These coalitions can also push for policy change and sustainable funding.
🧠 5. Educate the Public and System Stakeholders
- Run public awareness campaigns to reduce MAT stigma and normalize XR medications as medical treatments.
- Provide tailored education to courts, probation officers, employers, and shelter staff.
Use “MAT 101” toolkits with handouts, videos, or webinars for easy dissemination.
🛏️ 6. Integrate XR MAT Into Housing and Support Programs
- Ensure MAT access is accepted and encouraged in transitional housing, recovery residences, and homeless shelters.
- Make MAT-supportive policies a requirement for publicly funded programs.
Housing is healthcare—people are more likely to stay in treatment when they have a safe place to live.
📋 7. Track Outcomes and Address Gaps
- Collect data on treatment initiation, retention, relapse, recidivism, and disparities by race or geography.
- Partner with academic institutions for evaluation and program improvement.
Use the data to guide equitable funding, outreach, and training initiatives.
✅ Summary: Community Resource Strategies for XR MAT Success
| Strategy | Impact |
|---|---|
| Reentry clinics & navigation | Ensures smooth transition and treatment adherence |
| Mobile outreach | Improves access for underserved populations |
| Provider training & incentives | Builds local capacity for MAT |
| Cross-sector coalitions | Aligns services, policies, and funding |
| Public & stakeholder education | Reduces stigma, increases acceptance of MAT |
| Housing and shelter partnerships | Provides stability crucial for treatment success |
| Data tracking & evaluation | Identifies needs and supports continuous improvement |
In summary, XR medications are powerful tools—but their true effectiveness depends on what surrounds them. When communities invest in supportive infrastructure, they don’t just reduce relapse—they save lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions:
Question: Provide a chart to compare extended-release vs daily MAT meds.
Answer: Here’s a comparative chart highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of Extended-Release (XR) Medications vs. Daily MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment) for individuals involved in or recently released from the criminal justice system (CJS):
| Factor | Extended-Release (XR) Medications | Daily MAT (Oral/Sublingual Medications) |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment Adherence | Improves adherence by reducing daily dosing burden and missed doses; monthly or weekly injections help maintain steady medication levels | Requires daily dosing, which can be missed due to instability or lack of supervision |
| Access in CJS Settings | Limited availability in many correctional facilities due to cost and infrastructure challenges | More commonly available but still limited in many CJS settings |
| Cost | Generally higher upfront costs; expensive for facilities and patients without insurance | Lower cost, more affordable for programs and patients |
| Medical Eligibility | Requires detox before XR naltrexone; some side effects and injection site reactions; less flexible dosing | Broader eligibility; easier to adjust doses or discontinue if needed |
| Patient Autonomy | Less flexibility once administered; cannot easily stop or adjust medication | Greater flexibility to change or stop medication; easier to tailor treatment |
| Risk of Diversion | Very low risk of diversion since medication is administered by healthcare providers | Higher risk of diversion with take-home doses (e.g., buprenorphine tablets) |
| Stigma in CJS | May face resistance due to misconceptions of “replacing one drug with another” | Similar stigma exists but may be more accepted if supervised dosing is ensured |
| Integration with Support Services | Must be combined with psychosocial support; risk of overreliance on medication alone if not integrated | Easier to combine with counseling and support, though adherence challenges may affect outcomes |
| Post-Release Continuity | Can cover high-risk transition period if initiated before release; requires strong care coordination for continuation | Continuity depends on patient’s ability to access daily medication and services after release |
Summary:
- XR medications offer better adherence and reduced diversion risk but face challenges like cost, medical restrictions, and reduced patient control.
- Daily MAT is more flexible, accessible, and adjustable but can be limited by adherence and diversion issues.
- For justice-involved individuals, combining medication options with strong reentry planning and support services is essential to improve outcomes.
Question: Provide a recovery checklist for XR MAT users Post-Incarceration.
Answer: Daily Recovery Checklist tailored specifically for individuals using Extended-Release (XR) medications (such as XR buprenorphine or naltrexone) after reentering the community from the criminal justice system (CJS). It focuses on structure, self-care, treatment adherence, and staying connected to support.
✅ Daily Recovery Checklist for XR MAT Users Post-Incarceration
🌅 Morning Routine
- ☐ Wake up at a consistent time
- ☐ Take care of hygiene (shower, brush teeth, dress)
- ☐ Eat a healthy breakfast
- ☐ Check calendar/reminders for appointments or tasks
📅 Medication & Health Monitoring
- ☐ Review next XR injection date (if within 7 days, confirm or schedule appointment)
- ☐ Monitor for side effects (e.g., injection site soreness, mood changes)
- ☐ Stay hydrated and take other prescribed medications if applicable
- ☐ Note physical or emotional changes to discuss at next provider visit
💬 Recovery & Support Engagement
- ☐ Attend a recovery meeting (online or in person) or check in with a peer sponsor
- ☐ Review your recovery goals or affirmation (e.g., “I’m building a future with purpose”)
- ☐ Complete any therapy, counseling, or group session scheduled today
- ☐ Connect with a supportive person (family, friend, mentor, caseworker)
🧠 Mental and Emotional Wellness
- ☐ Practice a coping strategy (e.g., breathing exercise, journaling, mindfulness)
- ☐ Rate your stress and cravings today (scale of 1–10)
- ☐ Identify one trigger and how you handled it (if applicable)
- ☐ Acknowledge one positive action or thought today
🛠️ Life Skills & Reentry Tasks
- ☐ Attend job training, school, or work (if applicable)
- ☐ Complete at least one task toward your reentry plan:
- ☐ Housing
- ☐ Employment
- ☐ Legal check-ins (probation, parole)
- ☐ Transportation planning
- ☐ Organize or clean your personal space (helps reduce stress)
🌙 Evening Routine
- ☐ Eat a healthy dinner
- ☐ Reflect on your day—what went well, what was hard
- ☐ Prepare for tomorrow (clothes, appointments, lunch)
- ☐ Go to bed at a consistent time (aim for 7–9 hours of sleep)
📌 Weekly Reminders
- ☐ Refill prescriptions or request medication appointment if needed
- ☐ Check in with reentry or MAT coordinator
- ☐ Track progress toward short- and long-term goals
✨ Affirmation of the Day (Optional)
“My recovery is real. My progress matters. One step at a time.”
Question: Provide a support handout for families.
Answer: Family Support Handout: Helping a Loved One on Extended-Release (XR) Medication After Incarceration
🧠 Understanding the Basics
What are XR Medications?
- Medications like Vivitrol (XR naltrexone) or Sublocade (XR buprenorphine) are given monthly or quarterly via injection.
- They help reduce cravings, block drug effects, and support recovery.
Why Are They Used Post-Incarceration?
- They reduce relapse and overdose risk during the high-risk reentry period.
- They offer a consistent medication routine for people who may struggle with daily doses.
🤝 What Families Can Do
✅ 1. Be Informed
- Learn how XR medications work.
- Know potential side effects and what to expect.
- Use trusted sources: SAMHSA.gov, NIDA.nih.gov, or local MAT programs.
✅ 2. Support Their Autonomy
- Encourage your loved one to choose the recovery path that works for them.
- Respect their decisions—even when under legal pressure.
Say this:
“I’m here for your recovery journey—your voice matters most.”
✅ 3. Help with Access and Appointments
- Assist with transportation, scheduling, or paperwork.
- Find providers who offer XR medication in your area.
📍 Tip: Ask your local health department for MAT-friendly reentry services.
🏡 Supporting Stability
✅ 4. Create a Supportive Home Environment
- Help build daily structure (meals, sleep, appointments).
- Offer emotional support, patience, and nonjudgmental encouragement.
✅ 5. Avoid Stigma or Shame
- Medication is not a crutch—it’s a medical treatment.
- Use recovery-positive language.
Say this instead of “You’re still using something”:
“I’m proud of your choice to protect your recovery.”
🛠️ Practical Tools
| Need | How You Can Help |
|---|---|
| Appointment reminders | Use calendar apps or text alerts |
| Missed shot | Call provider or support person immediately |
| Emotional support | Be a safe space for open conversation |
| Crisis or triggers | Know relapse prevention plan, have contact list ready |
🗣️ Group Discussion Prompts
- What worries you most about your loved one’s reentry?
- How do you show support while giving space?
- What tools help you stay grounded as a family member?
📞 Helpful Resources
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
- Legal Aid or Civil Rights (MAT access): www.lac.org
- Recovery Peer Support Locator: findtreatment.gov
- Family Support Programs: Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, SMART Recovery for Families
💬 Reminder for Families:
“Recovery is not just about the person using medication—it’s about building a community of understanding, compassion, and commitment around them. You are part of that healing circle.”
Conclusion
Extended-release (XR) medications offer a valuable opportunity to support recovery for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) involved in the criminal justice system by enhancing treatment adherence and reducing relapse and recidivism. While their long-acting nature brings clear advantages, challenges such as cost, access, ethical concerns, and patient autonomy must be addressed. Successful implementation depends on a holistic approach—combining family involvement, self-management strategies, and strong community-based resources. When these elements work together, XR medications can become a powerful component of recovery and reintegration, supporting both individual health and public safety.