The Opinions Replay: This Jail in Rural Maine Is a Model for Treating Opioid Addiction
Aug 27, 2025
Alane O’Connor, Director of addiction medicine at Somerset County Jail in Maine, discusses her groundbreaking pilot program that provides monthly Sublocade injections to inmates struggling with opioid addiction. She emphasizes how jails can serve as crucial support systems for recovery. O’Connor shares inspiring success stories, highlighting the program's effectiveness in reducing relapse rates and overdose deaths. The conversation also addresses the financial hurdles of providing such treatments in correctional facilities and the need for systemic change.
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Jails Are A Critical Treatment Opportunity
- Jails present a high-opportunity moment to start addiction treatment because motivation is often high on entry.
- Alane O’Connor argues we underuse that window nationally and miss chances to help people enter recovery.
Prefer Long-Acting Medication In Jails
- Use long-acting formulations in correctional settings when daily dosing is impractical.
- Choose treatments that remove daily adherence choices to reduce relapse risk inside and after release.
Doctor Brought A Monthly Injection To Jail
- Alane O’Connor described proposing a monthly injectable medication after the sheriff asked for solutions.
- She had been using the injection in her community practice since 2017 and brought it to the jail pilot.