Curry County, OR. – Official Release: On January 9, 2025, the Board of Commissioners received a request to approve a grant agreement that would provide funding from the State to launch a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program for the Curry County Jail. These grant funds are available for all Jails statewide as part of an initiative to improve services in connection with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The rapid expansion of MAT programs in Oregon’s jails is due in part to recent funding resulting from the proceeds of Measure 110. Marijuana tax money is used to pay for addiction treatment and support. Treatment and support may include evaluation by medically trained personnel, peer support specialists, and the use of prescription medication.
While the Board welcomes new funding sources especially for mandated services such as the Jail, we understand that grants come with requirements and parameters for the use of funding. Additionally, enhancing Jail services to include a robust MAT program, which includes the use of prescription medications, could potentially place the County in extreme liability if the program is not operated strictly within the confines of the law and best practices.
A Board Workshop to discuss these concerns in depth with Jail staff, Finance staff, County Legal Counsel, the Criminal Justice Commission, and medical professionals, was scheduled for January 23rd, however, due to the unavailability of certain staff members playing a critical role, the Workshop has been postponed. Once a new date has been decided upon, it will be posted and the Workshop itself will be streamed live for those who are not able to attend in person.
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