Alvarado v. Westchester County
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Summary

Westchester inmates alleged forced cold-turkey heroin withdrawal violated their rights when denied methadone or Suboxone. Court partly upheld claims, letting the Monell claim and Eighth Amendment claim against Smithson proceed.

2014 | Federal Juristiction

Alvarado v. Westchester County

Keywords heroin withdrawal; cold-turkey; methadone; Suboxone; rights violation; Monell claim; Eighth Amendment
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Summary

Individuals incarcerated within the Westchester correctional facility contended that their constitutional rights were violated by the involuntary cessation of opioid dependency, specifically due to the denial of access to medically assisted treatment, such as methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone). A judicial review partially substantiated these contentions, permitting the progression of a Monell claim and an Eighth Amendment claim against Smithson.

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Summary

Inmates incarcerated in Westchester County alleged that requiring them to undergo heroin withdrawal without access to medications like methadone or Suboxone constituted a violation of their rights. A court partially affirmed these claims, allowing the allegations to proceed. Specifically, a Monell claim, which asserts that a municipality's policy or custom led to a constitutional violation, and an Eighth Amendment claim, regarding cruel and unusual punishment, were permitted to advance against the individual identified as Smithson.

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Summary

Inmates held at the Westchester facility claimed their rights were violated when they were made to stop using heroin suddenly without being given medications such as methadone or Suboxone. The court found some parts of their claims to be valid. As a result, certain legal actions, including a Monell claim and an Eighth Amendment claim, were allowed to move forward against an individual named Smithson.

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Summary

People in jail in Westchester said their rights were broken. They said they were made to stop using heroin all at once. They were not given special medicine to help, like methadone or Suboxone. A court looked at these complaints. The court said some parts of their lawsuit could continue. This included a complaint about cruel treatment against a person named Smithson.

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Footnotes and Citation

Cite

22 F.Supp.3d 208 (2014)

Highlights