Addiction Research and Therapy

Biography

Biography: E Renea Snyder

Abstract

The Bureau of Treatment Services, Alcohol and other Drug Division for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections designed an AOD Recovery Unit Model for Correctional Institutions. The AOD Recovery Unit Model is currently being piloted at State Correctional Institution Graterford, in the Eastern Region of Pennsylvania. It is anticipated that the AOD Recovery Unit will decrease AOD relapse once an offender re-enters into the community, as well as the overall recidivism rates of AOD offenders. It is believed that once an offender completes the recommended AOD programming such as Inpatient, Outpatient, or Co-Occurring programs; that the offender will then voluntarily participate in the AOD Recovery Unit. The AOD Recovery Unit offers eighteen workshops and one gender specific workshop. There are eighty-two modules that are gender neutral and 24 modules that are gender specific. The workshops encompass evidence based programs such as SHIELD (Self Help in Eliminating Life Threatening Diseases), SAMHSA’s Intensive Outpatient Matrix, Living in Balance (Hazelden), Natural Meditation, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Double Trouble in Recovery and Moving On. There are many self-recovery tools included in the workshops such as; Addictions Journaling, Addictions Art, Addictions Book Club, Beat the Streets Series, and Guided Group topics. The modules are facilitated by Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialists and trained AOD Peer Assistants. The AOD Recovery Unit at SCI-Graterford is a 115 bed, Outside Secured Housing Unit. Offenders are recommended AOD programming based on the Texas Christian University screening tool. There are currently four levels of AOD treatment provided; Inpatient – Therapeutic Community (4 months), Outpatient (41 sessions), Dual Diagnosis Therapeutic Community (6 months), and Dual Diagnosis Outpatient (47 sessions). Once an offender has completed the recommended programming, they are provided the opportunity to participate in the AOD Recovery Unit. Of those willing to participate in the AOD Recovery Unit, offenders are randomly selected to participate in the AOD Recovery Unit. It is anticipated from this process that AOD Recovery Unit participants will be less likely to relapse upon release into the community. Although we do not have the current numbers available to validate our thesis, we believe this to be a valid Recovery Unit Model and will be able to provide data based on the research at the August conference. We are working closely with our research department and the field staff to ensure efficacy of the model and workshops.