Substance Abuse

The Issue

Because a history of using drugs and/or alcohol is common to so many people in prisons and jails - both generally and in connection with particular criminal offenses - it is especially key that addiction issues be addressed during the period of incarceration. Failing to capitalize on this opportunity to treat addiction poses risks to successful prisoner reintegration, public safety, and public health. Utilizing programs proven to be effective, prioritizing resources for those nearing release, and encouraging community-based aftercare will ensure better outcomes for re-entering prisoners and the communities to which they return.

Challenges

• Proliferation of outdated or non-validated instruments that do not measure addiction treatment needs accurately
• Number of people incarcerated who have a history of substance abuse that far exceeds availability of treatment
• Treatment programs that frequently do not adhere to evidence-based treatment modalities
• Difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified, culturally-competent treatment professionals
• Lack of coordinated service delivery and aftercare to prevent and respond to relapse