Gov. Ivey awards grant for substance abuse treatment at state prisons

MONTGOMERY – Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $1.58 million grant to the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) to fund a substance abuse treatment program for state prisoners.

“Helping prisoners break drug addictions reduces recidivism and puts them on a path toward a more productive life upon release,” Gov. Ivey said. “This grant will ensure state prisons get the tools they need to help inmates overcome the destructive influence of illegal drug use.”

The grant is being used to fund a traditional six-month Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program and a therapeutic community program. The objective of the RSAT is to provide inmates with evidence-based programs to end their substance use dependence and reintegrate into the community. The therapeutic community program is a minimum of 12 months and is a peer-led program in which inmates are taught to model positive behaviors for others in the program. The focus is on maintaining sobriety.

ADOC Commissioner John Q. Hamm said, “Treating addiction is critical to any efforts toward rehabilitation and reentry of inmates into the community. The RSAT program is one of five treatment programs administered by the ADOC Office of Health Services.”

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant with funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Drug abuse is closely linked with crime, so it is important to treat addiction before prisoners are reintegrated into the community,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of this program and its focus on lasting recovery.”

ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.

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