Good news for those struggling with opioid addiction within the confines of San Mateo County's correctional facilities: there's a new treatment option on the table that's making waves for its potential to reduce the risk of relapse. In an effort to combat a challenging issue head-on, the county's Correctional Health Services has introduced Brixadi, an innovative long-acting injectable buprenorphine, into its Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) arsenal, offering a ray of hope for at-risk individuals caught up in the system.
Brixadi isn't your typical opioid treatment. This medication can offer consistent relief from cravings and withdrawal symptoms in either weekly or monthly doses, contrasting the daily tablets or strips previously used. The county treats north of 125 individuals for opioid withdrawal each month, and given that the incarcerated population often deals with sudden releases or transfers, a stable treatment regime has been somewhat of an elusive creature until now. According to an announcement by the County of San Mateo, this longer-acting medication could be a game-changer in ensuring that patients leave custody with a better shot at maintaining their sobriety.
"Time in custody can be unpredictable, but treatment shouldn't be," Darryl Liu, a clinical social worker heading the MAT program at Correctional Health Services, told the County of San Mateo. The introduction of Brixadi "allows us to quickly stabilize patients and make sure they have continuity of care once they leave," he said. This shift towards a more stable treatment option helps the individual in question and potentially reduces the risk of their return to the correctional facility.
The MAT program, which blends medication with counseling and behavioral therapies, is a beacon of progress in a field where one-size-fits-all solutions fall short. The program began in 2018 with just one patient, and now over 70 patients are choosing this path towards recovery monthly. Each participant receives care tailored to their needs, along with education about recovery and coordination with community providers to ensure they can continue their treatment after release.
