The Substance Abuse Treatment Needs of Prisoners: Implementation of an Integrated Statewide Approach.

Abstract Studies have demonstrated that treatment for drug-involved offenders can reduce relapse and recidivism. However, few institutions utilize validated assessments of drug dependence, limiting the ability to determine and prioritize services. Toward this goal, we explain an assessment method implemented statewide using a sample of 22,069 prisoners. Our purpose is to demonstrate best practice standards for screening and placement, and to disseminate information on the implementation process and data from the statewide screening, so that others may adapt similar procedures in their institutional environments. Six steps in the process are detailed with a brief summary of the efficacy of the new procedure.