Addiction medications do little to curb recidivism, evaluation finds

A new evaluation of more than two dozen Ohio drug courts found that giving participants medication for addiction had minimal effect on continued drug use and recidivism (Source: “Study: Relapse prevention medications like Vivitrol and Suboxone used in drug courts have minimal impact on recidivism,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept. 6, 2017).

The only apparent result of giving participants medication for addiction, according to the state-funded study of the use of  Medication Assisted Treatment, or MATs, was that some participants stayed in the court programs longer.

Since 2013, lawmakers have allocated more than $33 million into introducing MATs into drug courts, including $1 million paid to Treatment Research Institute, of Philadelphia, for the most recent evaluation that looked at about 600 drug court participants in 13 counties.

In an Aug. 22 letter sharing the findings with lawmakers and state agencies, Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMAS) Director Tracy Plouck said a majority of those running the programs "reported that they would strongly encourage others to start using MAT, but emphasized that MAT alone is not enough and it should be combined with evidence-based psychotherapy."

Plouck also shared that the study found some health care savings -- $4,384 on average - for individuals in the programs. The state program is limited to Medicaid- eligible individuals charged with non-violent felonies who are opiate or alcohol dependent.