PROFILE FROM HAZELDEN HOW THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAS REDUCED RECIDIVISM BY TREATING BOTH CRIMINAL AND ADDICTIVE THINKING.
Why Addiction Treatment Should Be Standard for Inmates
Addiction affects the majority of inmates. In the United States, 65% of inmates meet the DSM-IV criteria for substance use disorder, according to a 2010 report by CASAColumbia. However, state agencies like the Minnesota Department of Corrections report that number to be as high as 90%. Unfortunately, this widespread disease is often overlooked. CASAColumbia says only 11% of inmates with a substance use disorder receive the treatment they need. Due to the strong link between substance use disorder and crime, offenders who have not received treatment often relapse upon release—into drug use as well as criminal behavior—and reenter the justice system within 12 months. 52 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MARCH/APRIL 2020
Lack of treatment ultimately fuels the revolving doors of our correctional facilities, contributing to the rising costs of corrections throughout our country.
Evidence-based treatment reduces recidivism Substance use disorder treatment is shown to reduce recidivism—even when entered involuntarily, according to the
National Institutes of Health’s Addiction and the Criminal Justice System fact sheet. Forced abstinence during incarceration does not yield the same results. For decades, the Minnesota Department of Corrections has been providing addiction treatment to inmates at all custody levels except maximum. Treatment capacity has been expanded to over 1,000 beds in recent years. The department’s program uses evidence-based practices, including cognitivebehavioral therapy (CBT), to avert unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. The Minnesota Department of Corrections conducted and published a comprehensive study on the outcomes of the department’s treatment programs on inmates
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