A clinic in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula is providing monthly buprenorphine shots to treat opioid use disorder, including for people anticipating incarceration. The Ninilchik Community Clinic, run by the Ninilchik Village Tribe, serves both tribal and nontribal patients seeking to maintain recovery while facing jail time. Federal data shows up to 1 in 4 overdose deaths nationally in 2021 involved people recently released from jail or prison, underscoring the urgent need for continuity of care.
Barriers to Treatment in Custody
Alaska’s Department of Corrections confirmed they only provide short-term medication treatment to those already receiving it before incarceration and no longer than 30 days unless the patient is pregnant. This restriction forces many to lose medication access precisely when they face the greatest overdose risk. Experts note it takes only two weeks for people to lose their tolerance to opioids, making them highly vulnerable after release. Dr. Sarah Spencer at Ninilchik says the best practice is to make medication available to every inmate and provide transition plans for safe reentry.
What Rhode Island Accomplished
Rhode Island offers a national model, beginning in 2016 to provide treatment for substance use disorders to anyone eligible in Department of Corrections care. Within a year, the state saw around a 60% reduction in overdose death rates among recently incarcerated people. Dr. Jennifer Clarke, the program’s medical director, said the change let people focus on behavioral therapy rather than managing withdrawal and cravings.
National Gaps
A recent JAMA study of over 3,000 U.S. jails found fewer than half offered any access to medication for opioid use disorder. Black markets inside facilities make distribution challenging, but psychologists note alternative formulations and administration methods can address diversion concerns. For now, many people can only access treatment outside custody, relying on community clinics before and after incarceration.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.npr.org/2025/12/27/nx-s1-5588914/a-clinic-in-alaska-is-trying-to-help-people-with-addiction-survive-incarceration