Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment During COVID-19: Implications from Reduced Local Jail Populations

Abstract

Many states have responded to the spread of COVID-19 by implementing policies which have led to a dramatic reduction in jail populations. We consider benefits associated with providing the population of individuals who would, but for these policies, be incarcerated with substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. We discuss problems that may prevent this population from receiving SUD treatment as well as policies which may mitigate these problems.

Keywords: Incarceration, health care, SUD, COVID