Arguments over methadone cuts at NM jail

Metropolitan Detention Center Chief Ramon Rustin said that providing methadone in jail is not working. 

He said Thursday that he believes many who get methadone re-offend and wind up right back in jail. And he said as of Dec. 31st prisoners will not get it. But that won't happen without a fight. 
There is concern that people will end up in the jail's detoxification unit and suffer severe withdrawal symptoms without the methadone they're used to. Rustin said no other jail in the state provides methadone and says people who get it aren't the only ones who face withdrawal symptoms. 
David Schmidt of the Drug Policy Alliance of New Mexico said corrections officers could be assaulted by inmates who act out violently while withdrawing and says inmate health is a huge issue. The Drug Policy Alliance said it will file a temporary restraining order against the jail to keep the program going if the jail does not respond to the group regarding the policy change by Friday.


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