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.