I was heartened to read recently that Kentucky has surpassed the $1 billion mark in total opioid settlement funds secured to date.
Across our Commonwealth, the opioid crisis has wrought devastation on individuals, families, and communities. While these settlement dollars cannot undo the suffering already endured, they can — and must — be invested in treatments proven to save lives and restore hope.
Importantly, a new federal mandate now requires all correctional facilities to implement Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs, ensuring access to evidence-based therapies for inmates with opioid use disorder. At Boyd County Detention Center, we have already embraced long-acting injectable (LAI) buprenorphine — specifically Sublocade — paired with behavioral therapy to meet this mandate.
Monthly provider-administered injections offer distinct advantages over daily sublingual films:
• Eliminate daily medication rounds and pharmacy pickups, freeing up correctional staff and medical personnel for other critical duties.
• Carry virtually zero risk of diversion, since the medication forms a solid subdermal depot and is regulated under FDA REMS safeguards.
• Remove the need for witnessed ingestion, sparing both officers and patients the logistical burden — and the stigma — of daily mouth checks.
• Maintain consistent plasma levels, smoothing out the peaks and troughs of craving and withdrawal and markedly improving treatment adherence.
• Demonstrate superior post-release outcomes, with one rural Maine facility reporting threefold higher engagement in community follow-up care and zero overdoses among Sublocade recipients.
These advantages translate not only into better health and safety behind bars, but also cost savings of nearly $300,000 per patient in reduced emergency services and recidivism — a critical consideration as untreated opioid use disorder continues to cost Kentucky over $700,000 per individual each year according to the recent Avalere Health report.
With more than $73 million incoming from the Purdue Pharma settlement, and under the new Federal MAT mandate, now is the time to prioritize evidence-based, cost-effective interventions like Sublocade. By directing funds toward LAI buprenorphine programs in our jails and treatment centers, we can help Kentuckians reclaim their lives, reunite with their families, and return to the workforce as healthy, productive members of our communities.
William Hensley is Boyd County, Kentucky jailer