Maries County sheriff launches program to help inmates with drug addiction

VIENNA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Maires County Sheriff's Office is trying to help inmates with drug addictions with a new substance abuse assistance program.

Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman posted a message Wednesday on Facebook about the start of the program.

In the post, Heitman said the county wwas notified last year that it would be getting over $20,000 for the next 18 years after a Johnson & Johnson federal lawsuit settlement involving opioid medications. With the funds acquired from that settlement, the sheriff's department will be working with Four Rivers Community Health in Rolla to help treat inmates struggling with substance abuse.

Arrest often means an abrupt stop to using and leads to sometimes severe withdrawal symptoms. Side effects of withdrawal can include stomach cramps, anxiety, severe diarrhea, joint pain, shakes and nausea.

ABC 17 News spoke with Chief Deputy Scott John about this program. "One of the problems we also see is those with substance abuse issues suddenly stopping their use when they come into the jail and they have horrible withdrawal symptoms and they're very sick and some of them are dangerous withdrawal symptoms,” said John.

While working with Four Rivers Community Health, the sheriff's department received medications and instructions from doctors on how to dispense prescriptions to help mitigate the withdrawal symptoms.

Four Rivers Community Health also assists inmates with their qualification and enrollment process to obtain medical insurance.

Inmates will also have one-on-one appointments at the Four Rivers clinic made by the jail staff. In the Facebook post, Heitman said that a transport officer will take the inmate to the appointment where they can discuss their substance abuse with a doctor.

Based on the physician's assessment, the inmate will be prescribed a medication that will help them with their withdrawal of whatever substance they used.