Overview
Opioid Intervention Courts (OICs) are a new problem-solving court model designed to address the opioid epidemic and prevent overdose deaths. They can rapidly connect participants to evidence-based treatment including medication for addiction treatment (MAT) and other recovery support services. The New York State Unified Court System opened the country’s first OIC in Buffalo in 2017 with the explicit goal of saving lives. The OIC model was developed as a pre-plea, voluntary, medical triage for those at high risk of overdose entering the court system. OICs provide participants with immediate life-saving medical and behavioral health care with the goal of stabilizing individuals prior to the resolution of their case.
Contact Us
Office for Justice Initiatives
Problem Solving Justice Division
25 Beaver Street
New York, NY 10004
212-428-2130
Implementation
Courts interested in implementing an Opioid Intervention Court (OIC) have the opportunity to learn from a variety of resources:
Some Opioid Intervention Courts
317 E. Church Street
Elmira, NY
50 Delaware Ave
Buffalo, NY
58 Broadway, RT 30A
Fonda, NY
Research & Evaluation
The Opioid Intervention Court is a new and developing problem-solving court model.
Evaluations have been conducted that show the effectiveness of this approach.
- Evaluation of Evidence Based Practices in NYS Opioid Courts Syracuse University 2023
- NYS Peer Implementation Evaluation 2023
- Evaluation of the Buffalo Opioid Court University of Buffalo 2019
- Full Detail Outcome & Cost Evaluation of Buffalo Opioid Court NPC Research 2021
- Summary Evaluation of Buffalo Opioid Court NPC Research 2021
Medication for Opioid Use Disorder
Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT), also known as Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), is an evidence-based approach to effectively treat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Research has shown that approved Food and Drug Administration (FDA) medications for OUD can successfully treat substance use disorder, help individuals obtain and sustain recovery, and prevent or reduce overdose.
Recovery Peer Advocates
Certified Recovery Peer Advocates (CRPA) and Certified Addiction Recovery Coaches (CARC) in NYS OICs are recovery professionals that bridge the gap between clinical intervention and community resources. They are an important part of the Opioid Intervention Court team, providing support to participants during a very difficult time. NYS OICs incorporate CRPAs into the court process as early as possible to help clients participate in treatment and keep them engaged.
- Federal Probation Journal Peer Recovery Support Services in NY Opioid Intervention Courts
- Peer Recovery Support Services in NYS Opioid Courts
- Peer Support Across the Sequential Intercept Model
- Peer Support Services in Crisis Care
- Integrating Peer Support in Treatment Court
BJA COSSUP Presentation
This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-21-GG-04548-COAP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view of opinions in this website are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
This website is funded in part through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided).