Carbon County limits jail MAT program to injectable medications

The Carbon County Board of Commissioners voted May 1 to limit the medication‑assisted treatment (MAT) program at the Carbon County Correctional Facility to injectable MAT medications, amending an initial proposal that mentioned the Vivitrol brand to cover injectables generally.

Commissioners adopted the amended motion after a lengthier discussion of security, diversion, cost and continuity of care. The board also said it will use available opioid‑settlement and related grant funding to pay for drugs and program startup costs while staff and the county solicitor finalize policy details.

The motion before the board sought to “limit the medication assisted treatment program at the correctional facility to injectable Vivitrol to eligible inmates,” and was amended on the floor to require injectables rather than to specify a single brand. The board then approved the amended motion.

Supporters of the injectables approach told commissioners they want to reduce pill diversion inside the jail and to increase the chance that people released from custody remain connected to treatment in the community. The county’s District Attorney said that, based on incidents reported at the jail and the prison board’s review, “anything that’s dispensed that way in the nature of a medically assisted treatment should be by an injection.” He said injectables remove the opportunity for inmates to conceal, store or redistribute pills and reduce staffing burden tied to daily pill-dispensing supervision.

The county sheriff told the board daily oral dosing is difficult to sustain in a correctional environment and said injectables could improve the chances that patients remain stabilized after release: “Having to take a pill every day in or outside the facility is hard to maintain that.”

Commissioner Arner described available funding sources and existing grants, saying, “We have the Vivitrol grama that I think is $114,000; we also have opiate money that we can match that.” Commissioners and staff said opioid‑settlement funds and prior Vivitrol grant dollars will be tapped to cover medication and rollout costs while a final policy is completed.

Physician and program advisors at the meeting described injectables as lasting multiple weeks and as reducing cravings compared with some oral regimens. Dr. Jack Wolfson, who spoke during the discussion, said injectables were recommended earlier by area drug‑and‑alcohol partners because they limit the opportunity for diversion.

Board members and legal staff noted the policy will require additional revisions to address medical exceptions, continuity for inmates already established on oral MAT, procurement logistics with outside vendors and a screening process to determine clinical eligibility. Several speakers said the policy would not categorically deny medically necessary oral formulations; instead, the board intends injectables to be the primary option except where medically contraindicated.

County leaders did not provide an exact effective date in the meeting; commissioners said the policy will take effect after solicitor review and final administrative steps. Officials estimated—in discussion—that an injectable dose can cost roughly $1,000 and last about a month, and that overall program costs will be offset by using opioid‑settlement and grant funds rather than general tax revenue.

Implementation steps listed by commissioners included final legal review, operational changes with the county’s contracted medical provider, and coordination with community providers to ensure treatment continuity after release. Commissioners said they expect further refinements over coming weeks.

The board approved the amended motion by recorded affirmative votes during the meeting.