Wayne County — The Wayne County Detention Center is breaking new ground in the fight against addiction with a unique and evolving initiative aimed at helping incarcerated individuals recover from substance use disorders and transition back into society. The Wayne County Detention Center Substance Misuse Program (WCDCSMP), established in 2021, is already being recognized as a model for jail-based recovery and reentry across North Carolina and beyond.

Sheriff Larry Pierce, who has been a driving force behind the program, explained the motivation: “Several years ago, we started assessing the mental health and substance use needs of people entering our jail. Nationwide, about 60 percent of the incarcerated population is dealing with substance misuse. We knew we had to take action.”

From Jail Cell to Recovery Path

At the core of the WCDCSMP is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), a medically supported approach combining approved medications with behavioral therapy and counseling. The MAT program begins as soon as individuals are booked into the detention center. Medical personnel assess them through a thorough intake screening. If substance use is identified, individuals are referred to the MAT program voluntarily.

“Once someone enters the jail, we assess their medical needs and substance use history. If there’s an indication of misuse, they’re evaluated further and potentially enrolled in our MAT program,” said Sheriff Pierce.

Importantly, participation is completely voluntary. “There are no legal incentives,” said Machelle Bass, Jail Navigator for the Sheriff’s Office. “The only incentive is helping them achieve sobriety.”

The program has proven highly effective. “Pairing counseling with medication yields an 80% success rate,” said Bass. “It also helps our medical team manage withdrawal symptoms more effectively during incarceration.”

Beyond Medication: Building Support Systems

What makes Wayne County’s program unique is its integration of psychosocial support services alongside MAT. These include peer support specialists, AA and NA groups, and reentry classes. The psychosocial elements are designed to not only support recovery during incarceration, but to build sustainable support networks after release.

“All of the services initiated in jail are designed to continue in the community,” said Bass. “We aim to build rapport that leads to ongoing participation post-release.”

The Wayne County team has partnered closely with the Coalition for Addiction and Life Management (CALM) and the Wayne County Reentry Council, which is now led by Wayne Community College. These partnerships have enabled a seamless transition of care from incarceration to community life.

“CALM helps bridge the gap in services, focusing on prevention, education, and connecting people to resources,” Bass explained. “And Wayne Community College has been instrumental in developing reentry education programs.”

Tracking Progress, Encouraging Continuity

Once released, participants are tracked for up to six months. The program maintains contact, monitoring sobriety and offering continued support. If a participant relapses, efforts are made to reconnect and provide resources.

“We consider someone a graduate after six months of sobriety,” Bass said. “If we can’t locate them, or if they relapse, we still try to offer support until either goal is achieved.”

Although the program does not formally include family counseling, it encourages family and community support. “That’s often the key to long-term success,” Bass noted. However, all federal funding is strictly directed to supporting the individual, not external counseling services.

National Recognition Without Seeking It

Though the program has not formally sought awards, it has been recognized across the U.S. Bass has traveled to states including New Mexico, Georgia, Washington D.C., and has attended virtual meetings with counties located in Wisconsin, Michigan, Alabama, and Louisiana to share the program’s structure and outcomes.

“We were one of the first in the state to implement a program like this and secure funding,” said Pierce. “Other agencies are modeling their programs after ours.”

The reentry council has received recognition for its success, and the jail is proud to be part of that momentum. “We’re glad to be associated with a program that’s truly making a difference,” Pierce added.

What Comes Next?

Despite the program’s success, its future depends on continued funding. Sheriff Pierce emphasized that expansion—particularly of community-based services—is a top priority, but resources are limited.

“Our next goal is to ensure the program continues and can expand,” he said. “We’re looking at opioid settlement funds from the state to support growth. We’d like to do more in the community, but everything depends on funding.”

Bass echoed the sentiment: “Community involvement is vital. We need to improve resources on the outside to support people after they leave our care.”

A Voluntary Path to Recovery

Crucially, no one is forced into the program. If an incarcerated individual is identified as a candidate for MAT or substance misuse services, they are offered a place in the program with no strings attached.

“We give them the information, and they choose,” Bass explained. “And many choose to start that journey.”

Conclusion

While the Wayne County Detention Center does not host public events—“we’re not encouraging people to come to jail,” Sheriff Pierce joked—it collaborates closely with partner organizations that hold community outreach efforts.

The Substance Misuse Program has grown significantly since its inception, and both Sheriff Pierce and Machelle Bass are hopeful it will continue to be a beacon of progress for recovery and rehabilitation.

“This program was badly needed,” Pierce concluded. “And if people have to be in jail, we want to give them a chance to get better. That’s our goal.”

This project was supported by Grant No. 2020-AR-BX-0075 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 or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of  Justice.