A concerning trend has emerged within Ohio’s correctional facilities, where Suboxone—a medication designed to help people overcome opioid addiction—has become the most widely abused substance behind bars. This paradox highlights critical gaps in Ohio prison drug treatment programmes and raises urgent questions about how the state’s correctional system addresses substance dependency.

The Underground Economy of Medication Misuse

Suboxone, containing buprenorphine and naloxone, was developed as a life-saving treatment for opioid dependency. However, within Ohio prison walls, these tiny orange strips have been transformed into a lucrative commodity. A single strip, when divided using razor blades, can yield up to 32 individual pieces, each selling for £6 (approximately $8) amongst inmates earning just £17 monthly.

The drug’s compact size makes it exceptionally easy to smuggle into Ohio facilities, creating an underground economy that rivals traditional contraband networks. Former inmates describe elaborate methods of consumption, including dissolving strips in water and inhaling the solution to achieve stronger psychoactive effects than intended by manufacturers.

Security Measures Prove Insufficient

Ohio prison administrators have implemented increasingly stringent security protocols to combat this crisis. Since 2021, inmates no longer receive original correspondence, with all mail being scanned and delivered digitally to tablets. Strip searches following family visits have intensified, and daily “yard sweeps” are conducted to prevent external drug delivery.

Despite these enhanced measures, correctional substance therapy experts note that such approaches have failed to meaningfully reduce drug availability or overdose incidents. Similar security-focused strategies across multiple states have shown limited effectiveness whilst increasing punitive consequences for inmates seeking Ohio prison drug treatment.

Evidence-Based Solutions Offer Hope

The most promising approach to addressing this crisis lies in expanding legitimate Ohio prison drug treatment programmes. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), recognised by the National Institute of Health as the “gold standard” for opioid dependency, could transform how Ohio’s correctional facilities manage substance abuse.

Rather than treating Suboxone as contraband, progressive correctional substance therapy programmes would provide supervised administration of FDA-approved medications including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. This approach addresses the root cause of demand whilst eliminating the criminal enterprise surrounding illicit drug trade within Ohio’s prisons.

Proven Results from Progressive Programmes

Rhode Island’s comprehensive implementation of MAT across its entire correctional system demonstrates the potential impact of evidence-based Ohio prison drug treatment approaches. The programme achieved a 12% reduction in overdose deaths within facilities and a remarkable 61% decrease in post-release fatalities during its first year.

Kentucky’s correctional substance therapy initiative generated over £3 in economic benefits for every £1 invested, whilst Yale University research showed that inmates receiving methadone were three times less likely to violate institutional rules and 30 times more likely to continue treatment after release—outcomes Ohio could replicate through expanded programmes.

Ohio’s Current Efforts and Limitations

Ohio’s Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections has begun piloting Ohio prison drug treatment programmes, with London Correctional Institution offering oral naltrexone and recently introducing buprenorphine. However, current provision remains insufficient to address the scale of substance dependency across the state’s facilities.

Inmates report significant barriers to accessing correctional substance therapy, particularly the requirement for complete detoxification before naltrexone treatment. The painful withdrawal process, combined with continued drug availability within facilities, makes successful participation extremely challenging for many seeking help.

Overcoming Ideological Barriers

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence supporting MAT effectiveness, Ohio prison drug treatment implementation remains limited. A 2023 review found that only 1% of federal prisoners received treatment through MAT programmes in 2021, with just five states offering comprehensive coverage.

Resistance often stems from misconceptions about MAT being equivalent to continued drug use. However, medical professionals emphasise that properly administered correctional substance therapy does not produce euphoric effects and serves a similar function to insulin for diabetics—managing a chronic medical condition rather than enabling dependency.

Rehab Over Retribution in Ohio Prisons

Expanding Ohio prison drug treatment access to all three FDA-approved medications, combined with counselling and behavioural therapy, represents the most effective approach to reducing both institutional drug problems and recidivism rates. Such comprehensive programmes address public safety concerns whilst supporting genuine rehabilitation.

Current pilot programmes show promise but require significant expansion to match successful models implemented elsewhere. The choice between maintaining purely punitive approaches or embracing evidence-based correctional substance therapy will ultimately determine whether Ohio’s facilities become centres of recovery or continue perpetuating cycles of dependency and crime.

As mounting evidence supports medical interventions over security-focused solutions, Ohio correctional administrators face increasing pressure to implement comprehensive Ohio prison drug treatment programmes that protect both inmates and communities through proven rehabilitation methods.

Source: Progressive