RICHMOND, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- The Virginia Department of Corrections is expanding a program that helps inmates struggling with substance use disorder.

According to a release, the Medication Assisted Treatment program, or MAT, serves inmates and probationers, and this expansion will be available at certain facilities.

The Medications for Opioid Use Disorder expansion will allow buprenorphine continuations for people entering VADOC’s system with verified prescriptions for treatment.

Buprenorphine is a prescription medication that is used to treat opioid use disorder, and when taken as prescribed, helps to diminish the effects of physical dependency on opioids, increases safety in cases of overdose, and lowers the potential for misuse of opioids.

Inmates will be apple to get oral or injectable versions of the medication as well as ongoing counseling, case management, peer support and other substance use disorder programming.

“The data illustrates that the number of Americans dying from opioid use is increasing dramatically,” said VADOC Director Harold W. Clarke. “As an agency committed to providing second chances for those entrusted to our care, it is imperative that we continue to grow programs that have proven to work. MAT is one such program. We are committed to assisting those entrusted to our care in having a substance use-free life following their incarceration or treatment in the community.”

The release says the program will be offered at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women as well as the Nottoway Correctional Center, the Keen Mountain Correctional Center, the Green Rock Correctional Center, the Indian Creek Correctional; Center, and the Virginia Correctional Center for Women.

Injectable naltrexone, which blocks the effects of opioids, will also still be an option for people being released from 13 VADOC facilities as part of the agency’s Medication Assisted Treatment Reentry Initiative.

Two-dose naloxone take-home kits are already available for free for inmates coming out of 13 VADOC facilities.