The Dane County Jail’s Medication Assistance Treatment (MAT) program continued to grow in 2023, according to the county Sheriff’s Office.
The MAT program was started in the spring of 2022 to offer a continuation of care to anyone entering the jail who is currently on a MAT program in the community. The medications are prescribed to treat opioid use disorder, which in turn helps people stop using illicit opioids and improves their health, with the goal of reducing recidivism. In-house medical staff administers the medications in a controlled environment. During the program’s first year, 269 residents were issued the medicines.
In 2023, 2,637 people received some service from the program. Services could include screenings, consultations, referrals, or medications. A total of 524 people received either Vivitrol or Buprenorphine/Subutex medications.
