Modified therapeutic community treatment for offenders with MICA disorders: substance use outcomes

Abstract

Correctional systems nationwide have increasingly turned to therapeutic community (TC) programs for the treatment of addiction in prisons. TC treatment, with modifications, has shown considerable promise in treating offenders who have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders, a group that has a mounting prevalence in prison populations. This article reports data from a study that randomly assigned male inmates with mental illness and chemical abuse (MICA) disorders (n = 139) to either a Modified TC (MTC) or a comparison group. Analyses revealed that the MTC group had significantly greater declines in alcohol and drug use at 12-months post-prison release. Additional analysis related positive substance use outcomes to reduced contact with the justice system and self-reported criminal activity. Implications for treatment and policy are discussed.