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Ancillary Groups, such as self-help, peer counseling and relapse prevention groups, offered to
inmates as supplements to other treatment, or when slots are not available in more intensive
treatment modalities.
Substance Abuse Education. AOD Education programs provide participants with a
fkdamental overview of the social, physical and behavioral effects of drug and alcoholladdiction.
Participants learn the benefits that result fiom a drug fkee life style. Education groups cover the
following: the disease concept; pharmacology of drugs; physical, psychological, social and
financial impacts of use; self-assessment treatment options; role of self-help groups and relapse
prevention. At the time our study began, each institution had the flexibility to determine the length
and presentation style for their groups. Program content and structure has since become more
standardized, largely as a result of recommendations following the first-year research report
produced by the TempleDOC partnership. Substance Abuse Education groups hction as the
“entry level” treatment for the general population. The approach and the information presented
are intended to motivate inmates to seek continued treatment. The Spanish version of substance
abuse education is available to correspond to prison demographics and inmate demand.
Outpatient Treatment. Outpatient treatment provides services to inmates identified as
having moderate to severe substance abuse problems. In this phase of treatment, Departmental
Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialists (DATS) work directly and intensively with inmates to
help them recognize and address their dependency problems. Treatment offered can include
twelve step approaches, individual and group intensive counseling, rationallemotive therapy,
cognitive restructuring therapy, and other services rendered by treatment specialists. Where
clinically indicated, detoxification services are also offered. These treatment programs are
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This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.