Aroostook County woman’s sentence delayed after jail ordered to treat her opioid addiction

5 years ago

A Madawaska woman’s jail sentence has been delayed after a judge ordered the Aroostook County Jail to provide medication-assisted treatment to keep her opioid addiction in remission.

The judge granted a preliminary injunction last week requiring the Aroostook County Jail to provide physician-prescribed buprenorphine to Brenda Smith.

Smith was due to report to jail on Monday in Houlton, but her reporting date was delayed for a month.

[Aroostook County woman wins fight to be treated in jail for opioid addiction]

Peter Marchesi, an attorney for Aroostook County Jail, confirmed that the 40-day sentence for theft was delayed but he didn’t say why. He said last week that the jail plans to pursue “all available legal opportunities” to seek redress.

The ruling comes at a time when jails and prisons across the country are starting to provide addiction medications to inmates.

This article originally appeared on www.bangordailynews.com.