To the editor: The Los Angeles Instances’ June 19 article on medication-assisted therapy in Los Angeles County jails omitted essential context and misstated key info (“Overdoses in L.A. jails are fueled by long waits for drug addiction treatment, staffers say,” June 19).
As famous by LA Well being Providers, which incorporates Correctional Well being Providers (CHS), CHS at the moment has zero sufferers in custody on a wait checklist to obtain medication-assisted therapy, whether or not requested at consumption or later throughout incarceration. There has not been a wait checklist for months, and therapy sometimes begins inside roughly 72 hours, with the precise timing depending on elements comparable to medical evaluation, affected person consent, medical historical past and security concerns.
Medicine-assisted therapy is voluntary. CHS affords therapy and companies to all sufferers who select to take part however can’t drive anybody to simply accept care. Some sufferers are prepared at consumption; others request therapy later, cease, restart or change their thoughts. Restoration is private.
CHS invests $30 million a yr in medication-assisted therapy as a result of this care saves lives day-after-day. A wait checklist isn’t killing individuals in our jails. Therapy isn’t killing individuals. Overdoses from contraband medication within the jails are killing individuals.
The general public deserves info which can be correct, present and full.
Tim Belavich, Los Angeles
The author is director of correctional well being companies on the Los Angeles County Division of Well being Providers.
