PHILADELPHIA - The Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project (PILP) is pleased to announce the release of a new project, “Let Us Live,” highlighting the voices of currently and formerly incarcerated people with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), as well as an update to their groundbreaking report on access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in Pennsylvania jails and prison. This report, which examines the availability and accessibility of MOUD for incarcerated individuals in county jails across the state of Pennsylvania and in the state prison system, builds upon PILP's previous research in 2022.
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a chronic disease, and the standard of care for treating OUD is medication, specifically methadone or buprenorphine, as compared to naltrexone. Extensive research has shown that methadone and buprenorphine are the most effective treatments for reducing overdoses, relapse, and recidivism, while increasing the ability of individuals with OUD to maintain recovery. However, despite the clear scientific backing and the real need for these medications, access to methadone and buprenorphine remains lacking in jails and prisons.
PILP’s report demonstrates that important improvements have been made in the last couple of years regarding the availability of MOUD in jail and prison, but the Let UsLive project highlights that even where program improvements have been made, people’s actual experiences paint a different picture.
"We cannot ignore the fact that incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder are being denied necessary medication that could save their lives," said Sarah Bleiberg Bellos, Staff Attorney at PILP. "By releasing this updated report, we hope to raise awareness and advocate for policy changes that prioritize the health and well-being of those affected by opioid use disorder."
When individuals are unable to receive treatment while incarcerated, they not only suffer during their time in confinement but also face a significantly increased risk of death upon release. PILP's updated report aims to shed light on this critical issue and advocate for improved access to MOUD for incarcerated individuals in Pennsylvania.
Key findings from the report, which examined MOUD policies and practices for all 62 county jails in Pennsylvania gathered through Right-to-Know Requests, conversations with incarcerated people, and other publicly available sources of information, include:
In 16% of Pennsylvania jails, people with opioid use disorder still have no access to medications for opioid use disorder or are limited to ineffective treatment options like naltrexone. In these jails, people are potentially forced to endure withdrawal, a painful and dangerous experience for which they receive little or no care.
While the number of Pennsylvania jails providing any medication for opioid use disorder has increased, 74% of jails still do not start someone on MOUD, even if the person has opioid use disorder.
In addition to the report update, PILP is excited to announce the launch of their new project, "Let Us Live." This project focuses on storytelling and uplifting the voices of individuals directly impacted by the overdose epidemic and incarceration. By sharing these stories, PILP aims to reduce stigma and discrimination against incarcerated individuals with OUD while also working towards increasing access to MOUD for those who are incarcerated and detained in Pennsylvania.
“Our clients are not just statistics,” said Su Ming Yeh, Executive Director at the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project. “By sharing their personal narratives, we can help highlight the dire need for change to the way MOUD is accessed in prisons and jails.”
“When we're hungry, we're not just hungry for food. We're hungry for life, for substance, for something to be a part of,” said Monique, an outreach worker in Kensington and one of the featured storytellers in PILP’s project. "So let us live. Let ushave methadone. It isn’t the whole answer, but it's the bridge to get us to the other side.”
The Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project (PILP) protects and advances the constitutional and civil rights of people incarcerated in Pennsylvania through litigation, advocacy, and legal advice.
In 2022, PILP partnered with the Vital Strategies Overdose Prevention Program to address the opioid epidemic in jails and prisons. Vital Strategies is a global health organization that believes every person should be protected by a strong public health system.
For more information about PILP and their work, please visit www.pilp.org and to learn more about the storytelling project, visit pilp.org/let-us-live-moud-storytelling-project