Federal Court Rules Maine County Jail Must Provide MAT Maintenance Treatment

On April 30, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled that the Aroostook County Jail in Maine must provide inmates with medication for opioid use disorders. The ruling was in Smith v. Aroostook County. The court ruled that denial of medication assisted treatment (MAT) violated the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability, which includes discrimination against people in recovery for opioid use disorder.

Prior to incarceration, the plaintiff received a twice daily dose of buprenorphine, or Suboxone, prescribed by a physician as treatment for opioid use disorder. Jail officials . . .