Smith v. Aroostook County
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Summary

Court ordered Aroostook County Jail to continue Brenda Smith’s prescribed buprenorphine during a 40-day sentence, finding that forced withdrawal would cause severe suffering and serious relapse/overdose risk and likely violate the ADA.

2019 | Federal Juristiction

Smith v. Aroostook County

Keywords ADA violation; preliminary injunction; buprenorphine; forced withdrawal; medication; risk of harm; detention
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Summary

A court issued an order mandating that Aroostook County Jail maintain an inmate's prescribed buprenorphine medication throughout a 40-day period of incarceration. This judicial determination was based on the assessment that a forced cessation of the medication would result in significant suffering, increase the likelihood of relapse and overdose, and potentially contravene the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

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Summary

A court directed Aroostook County Jail to maintain Brenda Smith's prescribed buprenorphine treatment throughout her 40-day incarceration. The court determined that compelling her withdrawal would lead to significant suffering and increase the risk of relapse or overdose. This action was also deemed a probable violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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Summary

A court ordered the Aroostook County Jail to allow Brenda Smith to continue taking her prescribed medication, buprenorphine, during a 40-day jail sentence. The court found that forcing withdrawal from this medication would cause severe suffering. It also determined that such an action would create a serious risk of relapse or overdose, and would likely violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

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Summary

A court told the Aroostook County Jail to keep giving Brenda Smith her medicine. This medicine, called buprenorphine, was given to her by her doctor. She was going to be in jail for 40 days. The court said that making her stop this medicine would cause her a lot of pain. It would also be a big risk that she would use drugs again or take too much. The court believed this would probably break a law for people with disabilities, called the ADA.

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Footnotes and Citation

Cite

376 F. Supp. 3d 146 (D. Me. 2019)

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