Nick: Thank you, anytime.
Amna: And thank you, William.
The consequences of the nation's
opioid crisis ripple through
many aspects of society,
including our criminal justice
system.
It's estimated that up to 65% of
the U.S. Prison population has
some sort of active substance
use disorder.
And when these inmates are
released, studies have shown
that many will return to using
and be arrested again within a
few years.
But Stephanie sy recently
visited a jail in Kentucky
that's trying to not only break
that cycle but also save lives.
It's part of our ongoing series,
searching for justice.
>> What does the group
feel like is another character
defect he is struggling with?
Stephanie: Bethany has a way of
getting people to open up.
She approaches inmates just like
any other patient struggling
with addiction.
>> I have had issues trusting
people I get close to.
Stephanie: Ball is a substance
abuse counselor in covington,
Kentucky.
She leads a program for 100 men
and women getting addiction
treatment while serving time.
>> I hope you all keep in mind,
all of this is how is this
affecting your recovery?
>> You can't constantly run from
yourself everywhere you go.
You have to face reality at some
point.
Stephanie: This is essentially
an inpatient treatment facility
within the jail.
They offer classes, counseling,
medication that can treat opioid
use disorder and prevent
overdoses.
>> What do you consider your
drug of choice?
>>.
Opiates.
Stephanie: Access to medication
for those that qualify makes
this program unique.
>> Have you ever done medically
assisted treatment?
>> Yes.
Stephanie: It started in 2015
with federal and state grants.
>> Have you ever overdosed on
opiates?
How many times?
>> Five.
Stephanie: It's estimated
217,000 prisoners in the U.S.
Have an opioid addiction but
only 5% have access to
medications that can reduce
cravings.
>> It's horrible.
Stephanie: 26-year-old Tommy
Arnold is preparing for life on
the outside.
>> My fears is going back to the
old people places and things.
>> The old people, places, and
things mean --
>> That have connections to the
opioids.
Stephanie: Arnold was arrested
on a drug charge last year.
>> I've been in this addiction
since I was in the womb.
My mom smoked crack.
I came out addicted.
Stephanie: Arnold says when his
mom died of a drug overdose in
2011, his life began to spiral.
>> Anything I could get my hands
on, I was doing.
Stephanie: Along with daily
therapy and self-help classes,
Arnold receives a monthly shot.
Getting this treatment in jail
has given him hope for recovery
but could also save his life.
>> I am just a sick man.
I still have desires wanting to
use.
Stephanie: Studies have shown in
the first two weeks after
release from incarceration,
people are up to 40 times more
likely to die from an opioid
overdose than the general
public.
>> When you were in active
addiction before you came in,
you were taking a higher dose.
Now you have detoxed some so
that is a more lethal dose for
you.
We talk about the dangers of
using when released and talk
about the date -- the options
available.
Stephanie: The jailer says the
medications are an important
option for rehabilitation.
>> You want it to take effect so
those cravings are not the one
deciding factor about every
choice I make.
Stephanie: He says another goal
of the program is to try to
limit recidivism.
70% of inmates here are locked
up on drug charges.
>> If this is a war on drugs, we
are losing.
Our philosophies of we can
incarcerate our way out of this,
we are going to arrest
everybody, just plain doesn't
work.
You can't take somebody and put
them in the same situation they
came from and expect them to
succeed.
Stephanie: For inmates of the
substance abuse program, the
journey doesn't end upon
release.
>> We are going to follow you on
a weekly basis so please do the
right thing.
Stephanie: For many the next
stop is a ride to the life
learning center in covington.
It's a one-stop shop for
returning citizens.
Once here, participants learn
how to reestablish their
identification.
>> Do you have a driver's
license?
Stephanie: And role in public
insurance and receive help
finding housing and jobs.
>> I wrote the past is the past,
I won't let it determine my
present or future.
Stephanie: They take classes
that focus on coping skills and
confronting how their addictions
began.
>> I started using when I was
seven because I was abused all
my life.
Stephanie: 55-year-old Jeff came
to the center in October after
being released from the Kenton
county jail.
After battling addiction and
depression most of his life, he
says he began using heroin five
years ago.
That led to using fentanyl, a
synthetic opioid up to 50 times
more powerful.
>> I accidentally overdosed
eight to 10 times on that.
That's got to be the most
embarrassing, humiliating thing
I have felt in my life.
You wake up and there is the
paramedics working on you and
you know what happened and you
know you did it again.
All you can think of is getting
out of there to get high again.
Stephanie: This summer he
violated probation from a
previous drug charge and was
locked up for 90 days.
He began the in joke treatment
program.
For him it was game changing.
Do you still have cravings?
>> I have not.
Stephanie: What does it feel
like to have your brain back to
being yours and not in the grips
of an addictive substance?
>> Have you ever burned your
hand?
You know how the burn won't
stop, and eventually it goes
away?
That's what it feels like.
You don't realize the staying,
you don't realize how bad it is
destroying you until it's gone.
Stephanie: Schultz credits the
life learning center with
helping him slowly rebuild his
life.
He is living in transitional
housing and working as a
painter.
>> Coming from the background I
come from, when people reach out
to you like that, it's greatly
appreciated.
Stephanie: The life learning
center also provides much-needed
essentials like food, clothing,
bicycles, and they hire
employees who know what it's
like to work in the formerly
incarcerated shoes.
Were you incarcerated in Kenton
county?
>> Actually is a peer support
specialist, 11 years removed
from a heroin and opioid
addiction that sent her to
prison for more than a year.
>> As soon you tell someone you
are in recovery, it's like, she
gets it.
She knows what it's like to
neglect your family and
responsibilities because your
life becomes consumed by drugs
and alcohol.
Stephanie: The nonprofit life
learning center is overseen by
Alicia Webb Edgington, who spent
decades in law enforcement.
>> 90% of the people we have
substance use disorder and 82%
have a co-diagnosis of mental
health disorder.
Stephanie: For individuals who
have completed all six months,
three months in jail and three
in aftercare, Edgington says 24%
are rearrested within three
years.
That compares to 68% for all
U.S. Prisoners during the same
period.
>> Been doing this for too long.
It's not to like to have.
Stephanie: Tommy Arnold is
already planning to head to the
life learning center when he is
released.
>> If I could get one more
chance, I won't let myself down.
Stephanie: Sometimes a second
chance isn't enough.
Tommy has been in treatment
before and it didn't take.
Bethany ball says she never
gives up on anyone willing to
try again.
>> You get somebody a resource
they need and it saves their
life, it was worth it.
One person is worth it to me
because that spreads.
Stephanie: Arnold is scheduled
to be released this week.
Addiction may haunt him, but the
Kenton county jail substance
abuse program may have given him
a fighting chance.
For the pbs newshour, I am
Stephanie sy in covington,
Kentucky.