If we can get an offender off drugs, we can save countless people from becoming future crime victims. The RSAT program assists states and units of local government in developing and implementing substance abuse treatment programs in state and local prisons and jails. States are encouraged to adopt comprehensive approaches to substance abuse testing and treatment for offenders, including relapse prevention and aftercare services. Each offender will spend between 6 and 12 months in treatment, which is the amount of time research tells us is needed for these programs to work.
Drug testing is a key element to the success of any substance abuse treatment strategy.
States that apply for funding must agree to implement or continue to require reliable forms of drug and alcohol testing of individuals assigned to treatment programs in correctional facilities. In addition, states are encouraged to give preference to programs that provide aftercare services to participants. According to the 1995 Drug Use Forecasting Annual Report on Adult and Juvenile Arrestees, published by the Justice Department's National Institute of Justice, an average of 63 percent of adult male arrestees test positive for drugs. The proportion of drug-using offenders among the 1.4 million inmates in state prisons and local jails is even higher, but less than 20 percent of prison inmates actually participate in drug treatment programs. According to recent studies, cost-effective drug testing and treatment programs consistently reduce recidivism rates for offenders.