Riverside County Effectively Expands MAT Access in Detention Facilities

Last September, Riverside County launched a Medication Assisted Treatment program at the Robert Presley Detention Center in downtown Riverside. Thirty-seven inmates accepted MAT enrollment at RPDC during the first 38 days of the program’s pilot phase (Sept. 16 – Oct. 24). With its successful launch, the program was expanded to each of the County’s four largest detention facilities on December 1. Made possible through the “MAT in County Criminal Justice Learning Collaborative” (link is direct pdf download) with Health Management Associates, the program follows a specific workflow for inmate MAT enrollment with trained medical professionals and includes identification, education, monitored medication administration, counseling, and connection to community-based treatment programs.