The first month after release from jail is the most dangerous stretch for anyone leaving with an opioid use disorder. Tolerance drops behind the walls, so a dose that once felt normal can be fatal on the outside. A study of 6,400 people published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that starting medication for opioid use disorder in jail cut the risk of fatal overdose after release by 52% and more than tripled the odds of staying in treatment at six months. The takeaway is simple. If you can walk out already on medication, with your first appointment booked, you’re safer.
Enso Recovery was the first program in Maine to bring Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) inside county jails. Sentenced clients can start MAT while incarcerated, and the same team picks up their care the day they’re released. That warm handoff is the whole point. Enso provides outpatient MAT and intensive outpatient (IOP) in Augusta and Sanford, and refers detox out when someone needs it first. Use this checklist to bridge from jail to community care.
Before Release
- Confirm your coverage. MaineCare is suspended, not terminated, while you’re incarcerated, so it can switch back on at release without a brand-new application. Ask jail staff or a reentry coordinator to help restart it. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services handles the reinstatement.
- Line up an intake. Schedule your first post-release MAT visit with Enso Augusta or Enso Sanford. Aim for an appointment within 1 to 3 days of release.
- Get your records. Ask for your current medication list, dose, and last administration date so your care team can continue you without a gap.
- Plan your transport. If you have MaineCare, arrange a non-emergency transportation ride for your first visit.
- Carry naloxone. Any Maine pharmacy will sell you Narcan without a prescription, and you can get it free by mail through Get Maine Naloxone. Make sure people close to you know how to give it.
Days 1 to 3 After Release
- Attend your intake and continue your buprenorphine, Suboxone, or naltrexone as directed.
- Pick up any new prescriptions the same day if you can.
- Share your probation or court requirements with your care team so treatment and supervision line up.
Week 1
- Enroll in intensive outpatient (IOP) or standard outpatient therapy based on your assessment.
- Ask about a MARR-certified recovery residence if home isn’t stable. Enso runs recovery housing in both Augusta and Sanford.
- Keep naloxone on you and teach friends or family how to use it.
Weeks 2 to 4
- Keep every MAT and counseling visit. Consistency early is what protects you.
- Lean on case management for IDs, benefits, and work readiness.
- Update your probation officer on your treatment progress.
How Enso Recovery Supports Reentry
Enso built its reentry work around a single idea. Care shouldn’t break the day someone walks out. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
- A track record of providing MAT inside Maine county jails and coordinating post-release care with the same team.
- Outpatient Medication-Assisted Treatment with buprenorphine or Suboxone, long-acting injectables like Sublocade and Brixadi, or Vivitrol, plus counseling and case management.
- MARR-certified recovery residences in Augusta and Sanford for clients who need stable housing.
- Help sorting out MaineCare and referrals so coverage isn’t the thing that stops you.
Get Help Now
If you’re planning your own reentry, supporting a family member, or you’re a probation officer or judge coordinating a release, we can help you build the handoff. Call Enso Recovery at (207) 245-1800 or get started with our team to book that first appointment and verify your coverage.
Crisis and Emergency Resources
If you or someone you know is in a substance use or mental health crisis, help is available now. Contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential treatment referrals 24/7. Reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. The Crisis Text Line is available by texting HOME to 741741. For emergencies, call 911.
