U.S. prisons are experimenting with a high-priced monthly injection that could help addicted inmates stay off opioids after their release.
The drug is called Vivitrol and proponents say it could be effective at fighting the opioid epidemic (which currently affects around 2 million Americans).
Unlike some older drugs, Vivitrol isn't habit forming. However, it costs significantly more: about $1,000 a month, compared with $30 per month for methadone.
Skeptics question the product's effectiveness and say the manufacturer has pushed an unproven drug onto corrections officials.
Supporters say Vivitrol can save money by keeping people from returning to prison. It costs $25,000 a year to house an inmate at Sheridan Correctional Center in Illinois, which is starting a Vivitrol program.