WASHINGTON — The Kentucky court system is reconsidering how its drug courts treat defendants thanks to a new federal policy that is pushing them to offer medications to opiate addicts.
The state currently bars medication-assisted treatments for addicts in its drug courts. State judges order defendants off medications like Suboxone and methadone when placing them in their diversion programs.
–
Marlowe said a majority of drug courts in the U.S. have included medications as part of their treatment options. His association conducted a survey a year and a half ago and found that 56 percent of drug courts utilize Suboxone or other medicines. Another 25 percent said they would offer the medications if they were available in their community or they could afford it.
