Programs for Drug Abuse Treatment in Prison

¶ … Substance Abuse Programs in Prison

The work of Harrison (nd) reports that the 'Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Formula Grant Program was created by the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 in response to the increasing number of incarcerated individuals in the United States with substance abuse problems." (p.vi) It is reported that RSAT grants may be used to "implement or expand treatment programs for inmates in residential treatment facilities operated by State and local correctional agencies that provide individual and group treatment activities for inmates." (Harrison, nd, p. 2) The RSAT programs must be in a six to twelve month length, provide residential treatment facilities that are apart from the general prison population, be focused at the substance abuse problems of inmates, work in developing the cognitive, social, behavioral, vocational in addition to other skills that serve to bring about resolution to the substance abuse problems and other related problems. (Harrison, nd, paraphrased) There is a requirement that states "give preference to programs that provide aftercare services coordinated between the correctional treatment program and other human service and rehabilitation programs." (Harrison, nd, p. 3) It is reported that program difficulties included the location and construction of facilities that were appropriate in addition to the recruiting of staff that was properly trained and finally the ability to contract with treatment providers due to the manner of bidding that was lengthy in nature and that was complex. The work of Franz (2009) reports that the clinical focus of substance treatment programs must include: (1) interpersonal skill building; (2) errors in thinking; (3) post-release survival; and (4) anger management. (p.83) Eligibility criteria for treatment services include that the inmate must be able to verify and document a drug abuse problem and that the inmate not have a serious mental impairment that would preclude the inmate from full participation in the substance abuse treatment program. Finally it is required that the inmate sign an agreement that acknowledges their program agreement and specifically the 'Agreement to Participate in the Bureau of Prisons Non-Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Services'. (Franz, 2009, p.83) The Non-Residential program allows the inmate to withdraw from the program without sanctions whereas the Residential program does not allow the inmate to withdraw from the program without sanctions. (Franz, 2009; and Harrison, nd) There are reported to be several self-help programs including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Rational Recovery (RR) that are offered are part of the substance abuse treatment programs. It is reported that there are no incentives offered for either the Drug Abuse Education Program or the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Service Program. However, the 500-Hour Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) is reprinted to "offer both a maximum period of time in Community Corrections Center Placement and consideration for early release up to 12 months. (Franz, 2009, paraphrased) Determinations for inmates to take part in the drug abuse treatment program include: (1) evidence in the Pre-Sentencing Investigation (PSI) that alcohol or other drug contributed to the commission on the offense; (2) alcohol or drug use was a reason for the crime or violation of the supervised release; and (3) the sentencing judge recommended the inmates for a drug education program while incarcerated. (Frantz, 2009, p. 82) There are various treatment programs and combinations of treatment programs for substance abuse offered in today's prisons all of which have specific requirements both for the inmate to quality and to participate in the substance abuse treatment programs. Decisions about treatment programs are made by the sentencing judge and the prison psychological treatment staff.