Supporting the Use of Medications for Addiction Treatment in US Drug Courts: Opportunities for Health Professionals.

ABSTRACT

Drug courts are specialty courts that offer treatment services as alternatives to incarceration for defendants struggling with problems related to substance use. These courts have become major access points in the United States for the treatment of substance use disorders, but drug court participants often have limited access to medications for addiction treatment (MAT). A growing chorus of advocates and organizations have called for expanding access to MAT in drug courts, and health professionals may wonder how to join in these efforts. This article reviews practical ways in which individual health professionals might support access to MAT in drug courts, including working with drug courts, fighting public stigma against MAT, contributing to research on MAT in drug courts, and expanding addiction training among clinicians.