Drug Treatment in Prison
The prevalence of substance use disorder within the criminal justice system is more common than many people believe. In fact, substance use disorder is a major contributing factor for many incarcerated people. It is a far more common occurrence in those who are arrested and incarcerated in federal or state prisons.
Drugs frequently enter correctional facilities through various means such as visitors, staff, corruption and smuggling methods. Once drugs are inside, they can fuel a dangerous cycle of addiction.
An estimated 3 million people with substance addictions are locked up in any given year and at least 2 million people with substance addictions are arrested annually. Jails and prisons are often described as de facto mental health and substance abuse treatment providers.
However, they are ill-equipped for the role, providing inadequate services and limited treatment options to an already vulnerable population. These institutions were never intended to be health providers. It has resulted in economic inefficiency and even harmful practices when it comes to treating substance use disorder.
The relationship between Substance Addiction and incarcerated populations
Research and studies have shown that mediation-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder can make recovery more likely and reduce the risk of overdose death tremendously. Research has also found that people who are sent to jail or prisons are much more vulnerable to drug death compared to the general population.
In recent federal data released by the Biden administration, the numbers revealed that up to one in four overdose deaths in 2021 involved individuals who were recently released from incarceration. Research from the National Institute of Health found that weeks after prison release, individuals were up to 40 times more likely to die from a drug overdose compared to the general population.
Many people who want or need medication-assisted treatment for their drug addiction while incarcerated just don’t receive it. While jails and prisons rely heavily on punishment, it is not the most effective form of healthcare treatment when it comes to drug addiction.
Now, the Department of Corrections says they aim to expand access to medications for opioid use disorders and similar substance addiction. They hope to finalize a more comprehensive treatment program sometime in 2026.
What is the problem with Drug Treatment in Prison?
In a recent study published by the JAMA Network, with over 3,000 jails, fewer than half of these institutions offered some sort of access to medication for opioid use disorder. In a 2019 study, an estimated 64% of people who were admitted to jail each month were screened for an opioid use disorder. In the same year, only about 25% of jails provided naloxone access to individuals with possible substance use disorder who were being released.
In 2022, more than an estimated 578,000 people in both state and federal prisons had a substance use disorder in the year prior to their incarceration. Overall, more than 15% of all jail deaths were attributed to drug or alcohol overdose. And about 7% of deaths in state prisons were caused by alcohol or drug intoxication.
Research continues to find that the rate of substance use disorder within jails and prisons significantly surpasses that found within the general population. The problem, those who are vulnerable to substance use disorder are just not receiving the treatment they need to recover.
Most jails and prisons do not have adequate programs to help those who need substance use disorder treatment. A big hurdle includes a lack of sufficient funding and staff. This limits the ability to provide any comprehensive treatment options.
Many institutions do not provide medications or counseling services. They lack clinical resources and rely more on peer support services. Most places also provide a one-size-fits-all approach, which does not meet the needs of a diverse population.
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What does Drug Treatment in Prison look like?
Currently, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has only a few programs set up to address substance use disorder within the incarcerated population. These programs are set up to help:
- Reduce drug relapse
- Reduce criminality
- Reduce recidivism
- Reduce inmate misconduct
- Increases the level of education
- Increased employment upon release into the community
- Improved health and mental health symptoms and conditions
- Improved relationships with previously incarcerated people
Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) is one of the bureau’s most intensive treatment programs for incarcerated people. Offenders will live in a separate unit from the general population and participate in half-day programming and half-day of work, school or vocational training. The duration of the program is typically around 9 months or so.
Non-residential drug abuse treatment programs are also available. They are typically 12-week programs that consist of treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy in group settings. They address the criminal lifestyle, provide skill-building opportunities, improve communication skills, and promote community adjustment. This type of program is offered to those who have shorter sentences, those who do not meet criteria for RDAP, those who may be awaiting RDAP treatment or those who are ready to transition back into the community.
Community Treatment Services (CTS) is another program that offers support services for people transitioning from incarceration back into the community.
In response to the growing opioid overdose epidemic, in 2020, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation began providing free naloxone kits and training to those preparing to be released from prison. By July of 2022, an estimated 95% of people who were released from California state prisons had received kits and training for naloxone.
In parts of San Diego County, California and Los Angeles County, California, jails and prison staff, along with incarcerated persons, have access to naloxone and receive training on how to administer the emergency medication.
Ways to Improve Drug Treatment in Prison
- Make naloxone physically present in correctional facilities across the nation.
- Free access to naloxone.
- Timely referrals to community-based MAT for people who received treatment while in prison and are now being released. MAT is one of the most effective treatment methods and is the least commonly available treatment in correctional facilities.
- Regular screening for substance abuse and mental health disorders when being admitted into a correctional facility.
- Investments in comprehensive MAT programs and expanding current ones.
- Training for staff
- Integrated treatments with re-entry programs.
- Prevention and education while incarcerated.
Reach out to Hotel California by the Sea
We specialize in treating addiction and other co-occurring disorders, such as PTSD. Our Admissions specialists are available to walk you through the best options for treating your addiction.
Treatment for Substance Use Disorder
According to public health research, punishing substance addiction does not actually help address the root cause of substance use disorders. One of the major public health challenges when it comes to substance addiction is providing and implementing addiction treatment in a correctional setting.
The link between drug use and criminal behavior is significant. Oftentimes, people who are incarcerated have a history of substance abuse. Without effective treatment programs that utilize evidence-based methods, this population risks a higher chance for relapse and overdose.
Professional behavioral treatment program Hotel California by the Sea provides tools, resources and support for drug addicts. We offer treatment at all levels of care including detox, residential, PHP and IOP. We utilize evidence-based methods such as CBT, DBT and MAT. Hotel California by the Sea is dedicated to helping our clients reach their goals in sobriety and overcome their addiction.
References:
https://www.bop.gov/inmates/custody_and_care/substance_abuse_treatment.jsp
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3859122
https://paloaltou.edu/resources/business-of-practice-blog/addressing-substance-abuse-behind-bars
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2024/01/30/punishing-drug-use/
