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Sheriff: jailmedication-assisted treatment showing strong engagement and outside study
Summary
Sheriff Matt Phillips told the Astoria council the countyjailmedication-assisted treatment and deflection programs have high qualification and engagement rates; Oregon Health & Science University plans a study of the local program.
Sheriff Matt Phillips told the council that the jailmedication-assisted treatment (MAT) and deflection programs are a local success, noting high participation and retention compared with state averages. "Our qualification rate for the program is 92 percent. The statewide average is 83," he said, and added that entry and completion rates compare favorably to other counties.
Phillips said the program uses medications such as buprenorphine and methadone to manage withdrawal and pairs pharmacotherapy with counseling: "We do have mental health counselors in the jail as well as drug and alcohol counselors in the jail." He also said Oregon Health & Science University will study the jail's MAT program and contingency-management efforts to track outcomes after release.
Councilors asked whether MAT participants are primarily convicted (in-custody) or pretrial; presenters clarified that most people in the jail remain pretrial and that many participants were on pretrial status when they received treatment. The sheriff and judge urged the council to consider program continuity and access when they review follow-up data and future policy options.
