Medication-Assisted Treatment Cuts Reincarceration Rates in Pennsylvania

New data out of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania offers compelling evidence that medication-assisted treatment works, not just for opioid detox and recovery, but for reducing the cycle of incarceration that traps so many people with untreated opioid use disorder.

For anyone weighing their options for opioid detox, this research reinforces what clinicians have long argued: medically supervised treatment saves lives and changes outcomes.

People who received medication-assisted treatment for opioid use at Lancaster County Prison were nearly half as likely to end up behind bars again compared to other former prisoners in the general population, according to county officials.

According to data compiled by the prison, 34% of the 1,474 prisoners who received medication for opioid addiction since the program began in 2023 returned to jail long-term, at least six months after release, compared to 65% for the entire county prison population over the same period.

That nearly 31-percentage-point gap is not a coincidence. It is what evidence-based opioid treatment looks like in practice.

Why Medical Detox Matters for Opioid Use Disorder

Opioid withdrawal is not simply uncomfortable, it can be medically dangerous and is a leading cause of relapse and overdose death.

When someone dependent on opioids stops using abruptly, they experience a cascade of physical symptoms including severe muscle pain, vomiting, sweating, insomnia and intense drug cravings.

Without medical supervision and appropriate medication, most people cannot sustain abstinence through withdrawal alone.

This is why medication-assisted treatment, the use of FDA-approved medications like buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone or naltrexone alongside counseling and behavioral support, is the gold standard for opioid use disorder.

These medications work by reducing cravings and blocking the euphoric effects of opioids, allowing patients to stabilize, engage with treatment and rebuild their lives.

The Lancaster County data is particularly meaningful because it tracks a real-world population over time, not a controlled clinical trial.

It shows that even in the challenging environment of incarceration and reentry, a period historically associated with extremely high overdose mortality, medication-assisted treatment produces measurably better outcomes.

Opioid Settlement Dollars Funding Treatment Programs

The analysis was presented as part of a county Drug and Alcohol Commission showcase of eight county initiatives funded by a growing list of legal settlements with companies accused of causing or exacerbating the opioid crisis.

Lancaster County has so far received $10.4 million from these settlements, with some delivered as lump sums and others as annual payments through at least 2038.

To date, county commissioners have allocated $6 million to programs designed to fight the opioid crisis, and most of the remaining $4.4 million already in county hands must be allocated within the next two years.

Among the programs funded by settlement dollars are a case manager for infants exposed to drug use in utero, an assessment program for students in county public schools with drug-use related issues and a two-month scholarship for people to live in recovery houses.

County data on those programs shows that the neonatal case manager completed 56 child development evaluations last year, while 101 people have used the recovery house scholarship since November 2024. Employment rates among scholarship recipients doubled during the two-month program period.

These investments reflect a broader recognition that opioid use disorder requires a continuum of care: from medically supervised detox and withdrawal management, through medication-assisted treatment, and into supported recovery housing and community reintegration.

Understanding Buprenorphine and Medication-Assisted Treatment

Buprenorphine, often known by the brand name Suboxone, is a partial opioid agonist that reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings without producing the dangerous respiratory depression associated with full opioid use.

It is typically administered as a sublingual film or tablet and can be prescribed in office-based settings, including within correctional facilities like Lancaster County Prison.

Methadone, another first-line MAT medication, works similarly but is dispensed through licensed opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Naltrexone, a non-opioid option, blocks opioid receptors entirely and is appropriate for patients who have already completed detox.

All three are FDA-approved, evidence-based, and endorsed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as effective treatments for opioid use disorder.

Finding Medical Detox and MAT Programs in Pennsylvania

The Lancaster County data should encourage anyone struggling with opioid dependence to take the first step toward evidence-based care. Medication-assisted treatment is available through licensed opioid treatment programs, federally qualified health centers, and many hospitals and detox centers across Pennsylvania.

Never try to stop using opioids, and especially alcohol or benzodiazepines, without medical supervision. Withdrawal from these substances can be fatal.

Explore detox.com’s directory to find detox centers in your area. Call 800-996-6135(Sponsored) to speak with a specialist and find medically supervised detox programs and medication-assisted treatment near you.