The opioid epidemic is destroying families nationwide and Clark County is no exception. Fentanyl is making matter much worse and leaving a path of death in its wake. Specialty courts are leading the way on effectively addressing opioid use disorder with medication-assisted treatment (MAT). MAT implements evidence-based treatment including FDA-approved pharmacotherapy in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies to address opioid use disorder. 

The Pact Coalition (Prevention Advocacy Choices Teamwork) summit hosted a fentanyl panel in Las Vegas to share knowledge on interventions or existing policies/programs that have shown to be effective at addressing fentanyl in the community. The work of the Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada MAT treatment court was featured on the panel.

Samantha Gowette presented as part of a Fentanyl Impact Panel. Samantha is a Specialty Court Coordinator working with the MAT re-entry court. MAT works with community agencies to offer medications for addiction treatment to all participants in addition to treatment and clinical case management. Samantha works with MAT court participants inside the Nevada Department of Corrections. The MAT court has had 80 graduates and currently has 42 participants.

As a specialty court coordinator who works directly with clients involved in the justice system, Samantha has special insight. She shared her insight and experience on getting participants into treatment, ensuring they understand medication-assisted treatment, and helping to navigate their recovery.

Experts in the field are taking notice of the impact specialty courts are making. Senior public health advisor Jon Berg, M. Ed wrote, “By including the criminal justice system as a path to treatment, states may see an increase in access to and maintenance in treatment, and lower rates of overdoses, re-offending, and re-incarcerations.”

Recovery from opioid use disorder is possible with proper treatment. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) has an online treatment program directory https://dpt2.samhsa.gov/treatment.