Prison Substance Abuse Treatment

In addition to the general prison monitoring work through which the Prison Visiting Project (PVP) regularly examines substance abuse treatment programs in prisons.

Substance Abuse Treatment Study

In March 2011, PVP released the first-ever comprehensive review of the State's prison-based substance abuse treatment programs. The report, Treatment Behind Bars: Substance Abuse Treatment in New York State Prisons, 2007-2010 culminates a three-year study conducted by the PVP, including visits to 23 prisons; interviews with experts, treatment staff and participants; and, the analysis of over 2,300 inmate surveys and system-wide data.  

Especially given the current focus on cost savings, public health and public safety, the report creates significant opportunities for New York policy makers in four important areas:

• improving the effectiveness of prison treatment programs;
• using existing evidence-based instruments and programming to reduce the current costs of providing treatment in New York’s prisons;
• making a difference in communities affected by high recidivist rates and drug use; and,
• promoting best practices that, in effect, provide national leadership for policy makers and prison officials committed to curbing drug abuse among currently and formerly incarcerated individuals.  

Principal Findings & Recommendations

Download executive summary (275 KB)

Download a full copy of the report (2 MB)

Download substance abuse treatment fact sheet (76 KB)

View the press release