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AN ACT

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS; CREATING THE OPIATE REPLACEMENT

THERAPY FOR INMATES PILOT PROJECT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. OPIATE REPLACEMENT THERAPY FOR INMATES PILOT

PROJECT.--

A. The "opiate replacement therapy for inmates

pilot project" is created as a two-year study that provides

opiate replacement treatment, utilizing

buprenorphine/naloxone, to fifty women with a history of

heroin or other opiate addiction who are incarcerated at and

are to be released on parole from the New Mexico women's

correctional facility in Grants and the Camino Nuevo

correctional center. The project shall include standard

therapeutic community and addiction counseling.

B. Opiate replacement therapy shall be

administered to fifty women with a history of heroin or other

opiate addiction who:

(1) are within three months of release;

(2) will be monitored on parole or probation

for at least one year following release;

(3) are not pregnant; and

(4) after being fully informed of

buprenorphine/naloxone and its effects and of the requirements

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and procedures for participation in the project, agree to

participate in the opiate replacement therapy for inmates

pilot project for two years.

C. Priority shall be given to those women who are

closest to being released from incarceration and to those

planning to parole to a community within sixty miles of a

physician certified to prescribe buprenorphine/naloxone

therapy.

D. Opiate replacement therapy with

buprenorphine/naloxone shall be made available to each

participant in the pilot project for two years. The impact of

the project on all participants shall be evaluated for two

years.

E. The corrections department shall collaborate

with the department of health to administer and evaluate the

opiate replacement therapy for inmates pilot project and to

contract for the services of buprenorphine/naloxone-certified

physicians and case managers to evaluate and treat the women

participants.

F. The corrections department in collaboration

with the department of health shall evaluate the success of

women who participate in the pilot project as compared to

women with a history of opiate dependence who are not treated

with buprenorphine/naloxone. The evaluation shall include

findings about:

(1) recidivism, relapse and cost savings;

(2) the amount of psychotropic medication

used;

(3) the number of opiate-positive drug

screens;

(4) the rate and frequency of infection,

self-inflicted injury and need for medical care; and

(5) the changes in physical and mental

health status, employment status, parenting and other quality

of life indicators during the project period.

G. The corrections department and department of

health shall each report independently to the appropriate

interim legislative committee on the evaluations, treatments

and outcomes of the pilot project participants by December 1,

2008 and again by December 1, 2009.

H. The pilot project shall run from July 1, 2007

through June 30, 2009.

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