Westmoreland wants to expand program to help curb drug use by jail inmates

Westmoreland officials want to expand a pilot program at the county prison to give soon-to-be-released inmates medicine that blocks the effects of illegal drugs.

Over the past year, 44 Westmoreland County Prison inmates volunteered to participate in the program to receive counseling and potentially injections of Vivitrol. So far, 16 inmates received the injections and about half are still participating in after-care counseling and receiving continued doses following release from prison.

“We hope this program continues to grow. The numbers are low, but it makes a huge difference,” county Commissioner Gina Cerilli said.

Colleen Hughes, executive director of the Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission, the agency that implemented the pilot program at the jail, said 26 men and 36 women initially volunteered for Vivitrol treatments. Administrators whittled down participants to 13 men and 31 woman who qualified.

Of those, 11 inmates received Vivitrol injections and were discharged from jail to outpatient care. Hughes said about 40% of those inmates are still receiving counseling and followup injections. Another five inmates received initial injections and were released to inpatient treatment, where four have continued to participate.

“This is positive. It shows that treatment works,” Hughes said.

Not every inmate enrolled in the program was cleared for injections. Hughes said some did not meet the medical requirements.

Vivitrol, the brand name of naltrexone, is a non-narcotic injection that blocks a drug user from getting high and suppresses cravings for drugs such as heroin and alcohol. Injections are required to continue every month. Inmates had to attend eight weeks of counseling and education sessions before they received the first treatment.

Hughes said the initial dose was donated by the medication’s producer. One followup injection was paid for by the Westmoreland County Drug and Alcohol Commission through funding provided by state and federal sources.

Additional funds will have to be identified to expand the program, officials said.

Commissioner Ted Kopas said the county will consider allocating money toward the program but no decision has been reached.

“It’s highly encouraging, and I expect it to grow,” Kopas said. “We will consider using county money, but any county investment would be predicated on long-term successes.”

Specifically, officials said they want to review statistics showing how many, if any, former inmates that received the Vivitrol treatment returned to jail on new criminal charges. Those numbers are being calculated, according to Warden John Walton.

Drug addiction has been an ongoing issue at the jail. Nearly 70% of inmates admitted last month required detoxification services for drug and alcohol addiction, Walton said. Although still high, that number is substantially down from the prior month, when more than 85% of inmates received detox services.

Walton said the Vivitrol program has been well-received by inmates and there is interest from others to participate.

“We think this is essential and will try to start a second class,” Walton said.