$1000 dollar shot used to fight opioid in prisons
Eight states including Rhode Island have received federal grants for using Vivitrol to help people in prison struggling with opioid addiction. United States prisons are experimenting with the monthly injection, which could prevent people addicted to opioids from relapsing after they are released. A single shot of...
Eight states including Rhode Island have received federal grants for using Vivitrol to help people in prison struggling with opioid addiction. United States prisons are experimenting with the monthly injection, which could prevent people addicted to opioids from relapsing after they are released. A single shot of Vivitrol lasts about a month and costs as much as $1,000.
Dr Jennifer Clark, Medical Program Director for the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, said that Rhode Island prisons started using Vivitrol last December, and that it has been effective in reducing opioid cravings. Although some people are skeptical about the high price of the drug, Clark said that using Vivitrol is cheaper than the cost of locking up people for drug offences .
“Every dollar we spend on treatment is going to help save money for the community as a whole. When people are treated appropriately with medication, they are less likely to be reincarcerated, less likely to overdose,” Clark said.
However, there are concerns about the drug’s effectiveness and safety. A study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse published in March found that Vivitrol did not lead to long-term recovery from drug addiction.
Credit: NIAID, Flickr http://bit.ly/2gbERDG. US Prisons are experimenting with Vivitrol, which could help people in prison struggling with opioid addiction prevent relapses after they are released.