There May Not Be a Tomorrow: Immediacy, Motivational Interviewing, and Opioid Intervention Courts

Opioid intervention courts (OICs) are forming as communities seek effective answers to the rising death tolls from opioid overdose. Interventions must fit a quickened time range of minutes, hours, and days rather than weeks, months, or years. Evidence-based practices (EBPs) are needed to support this work, but only if they can effectively respond within the rapid court intervention framework that is unique to OIC. The author suggests the well-researched approach of Motivational Interviewing (MI) as one evidence-based practice that could be applied to bolster the OIC’s rapid response model.