Davidson County Detention Center officials report early success for jail-based Vivitrol program

Davidson County officials and service partners told the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 8 that a jail-based medication-assisted-treatment program using Vivitrol injections has enrolled dozens of people and generated strong self-reported satisfaction and early community connections.

Major Louie of the Davidson County Sheriff—s Office introduced the update and said the county launched the program in mid-2024 and is now reporting January–June 2025 results. "You're aware of the program that runs out of the jail up there with the VIVITROL shots," Major Louie said as he turned the presentation over to program staff.

Officer Harrison, who led the program report, said staff interviewed 40 inmates and that 31 were active participants during the reporting period. "There are 31 active participants and 43 injections were given," Harrison said. She summarized intake survey data showing long histories of opioid use (more than seven times per week for many respondents), and that 92 percent of respondents said their charges resulted from opioid addiction.

Davidson Medical Ministries, which operates DC Connect peer-support and care-coordination work tied to the jail, described the post-release handoff. Janice Hurley, executive director of Davidson Medical Ministries, said the group recorded 238 community connections on behalf of incarcerated people and 45 post-release appointments in the first six months of 2025, and that 45 percent of referred people were temporarily lost to contact during an earlier staffing gap.

An exit-survey summary presented by Officer Harrison reported that 92 percent of respondents said the jail program aided their recovery and that, after the second Vivitrol injection, most participants reported reductions in cravings and improved mental clarity. The report listed three recidivism events among 31 participants during the period (``3 out of the 31, that's less than 10 percent,'' Harrison said).

Two men who participated in the program spoke to the board. Bridal Williams, identified as a trustee in the program, described his addiction history and told commissioners, "the shot does work," and credited the combination of the Vivitrol injection, jail-based services and community partners for his current outlook. Adam Troels, the new MAT coordinator, described plans to expand casework, peer support and in-jail education, and emphasized the program—s "wraparound" services that pair medication with therapy and community connections.

Grant writer Sharon Pope and others credited a state settlement grant and local coordination for funding the program. Pope described Davidson County—s program as among the more fully developed in the region and urged continued partnership with treatment providers and social services to reduce barriers such as child-support holds and housing shortages.

Commissioners and staff asked detailed operational questions about continuity of care for people transferred to state prison, Medicaid enrollment after release and capacity for long-term residential placements such as TROSA. Staff said Vivitrol is expensive to provide when participants are uninsured (the presentation listed a per-injection cost paid by the county in one instance at about $762, dropping to small co-pay amounts after Medicaid enrollment), and noted that many state prisons do not routinely provide Vivitrol. Staff also told the board that 49 jail referrals led to 110 in-jail appointments with peer support during the reporting window and that peer support capacity was a limiting factor earlier in the year but has improved.

The board did not take formal policy action during the presentation; commissioners asked staff to continue collecting 30/60/90/120-day post-release outcomes required by the program MOU and directed staff to return with proposals for transitional housing and additional program funding options.

The sheriff and program partners made presentation materials and a video interview available to commissioners for follow-up review.