Addictions, Substance Use Category

Guidelines for Implementing Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in State Prisons

1 CE Hour
41 members have taken this course
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About the Course

This guideline published by SAMHSA outlines comprehensive strategies for implementing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in state prisons. It emphasizes the use of FDA-approved medications — methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone — as part of an evidence-based approach to treating OUD among incarcerated individuals. The document details models for in-facility and community-partnered delivery of MOUD, discusses screening, medication diversion, reentry coordination, and compliance with federal regulations. It also underscores the importance of reducing overdose mortality post-release and supporting continuity of care, and provides actionable implementation steps for facility leadership and staff.

This course is based on the reading online article, Guidelines for Implementing Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in State Prisons created by SAMHSA in 2025.

Publication Details

Publication Date: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration June 2025

Course Material Author

SAMHSA
This publication was prepared by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in collaboration with the Office of Justice Programs, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

SAMHSA authored the material only, and was not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Course Creator

Kathryn Held, Psy.D., CADC III

Kathryn Held, Psy. D associate and CADC III, is an individual therapist at Visions adolescent treatment centers. With a decade of experience in the mental health field, Kathryn specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders, OCD, and the OCD spectrum. Kathryn also has expertise in working with LGBTQ+ adolescents while navigating complex family systems. Her current research projects include adolescent suicide and the use of OCD art interventions in anxiety and OCD treatment. She is trained in CBT, ACT and Exposure and Response Prevention. Her empathetic and artistic approach helps support, educate, and instill agency in her clients. Prior to joining the Visions team, Kathryn worked in various treatment settings including detox, sober living, and as the Program Director of a dual diagnosis outpatient treatment center.

Target Audience

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for intermediate and above levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this course, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Identify and compare the three FDA-approved medications used in treating opioid use disorder within correctional settings and their respective benefits and limitations.
  2. 2 Describe operational models for implementing MOUD in state prisons, including in-house opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and partnerships with community-based providers.
  3. 3 Explain the importance of continuity of care upon release and the legal and clinical responsibilities correctional facilities must fulfill under federal law to support residents with OUD.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

Any relevant financial disclosures for course material authors can be found in the article.

Course Creator

Kathryn Held, Psy.D., CADC III – No Disclosures to report

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

$9
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Course Details

1 CE Hour
Reading Online
Course 103771

Related Topics

Evidence Based Interventions Opioids Incarceration Public Health Distinct Populations

Availability

This course is available until Jul 23rd, 2035.

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