Residential Substance Abuse Treatment

In 1997, the Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded ACDP with a federal grant that allowed funding for prison-based long-term Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) programs. With this award, ACDP initiated four RSAT programs within the system. Since that time, ACDP has converted several RSAT programs to state funded while initiating addition RSAT programing within the Department. 

RSAT programs involve three to four hours of daily substance use disorder core treatment. Programs follow a three phase schedule: 

  1. Introduction to Treatment/Orientation lasts up to two weeks and focuses on the tasks of entering treatment and learning the language and behavioral expectations thereby allowing offenders to begin taking ownership of the problems that their substance use has created for them, their families, and the community.
  2. Drug Education, Criminal & Addictive Thinking, and Socialization lasts approximately five weeks and focuses on providing offenders with thorough and current information regarding the effects of using, abusing and becoming dependent on alcohol and/or drugs. Criminal and Addictive Thinking is presented to provide the link between the offender's involvement with alcohol and drugs and their criminal lifestyle choices. Socialization needs are also identified to assist the offender in rebuilding important family relationships.
  3. Relapse Prevention and Release/Reintegration planning lasts approximately five weeks and focuses on the last days remaining on the offender's sentence. Offenders will learn what causes relapse, recognizing common triggers, identifying methods for maintaining recovery, and developing a relapse prevention plan. Offenders are offender the opportunity to participate in the high school or GED program, those who have completed their high school or GED are afforded the opportunity to enroll in college level courses. The state Department of Adult Correction offers a variety of vocational enhancement programs. The opportunity for successful re-entry into the local community is a major priority of both the Department and ACDP program staff.