The National Institute of Corrections (NIC), in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), announces the release of a new publication titled Guidelines for Managing Substance Abuse Withdrawal in Jails: A Tool for Local Government Officials, Jail Administrators, Correctional Officers, and Health Care Professionals. The document provides general guidance for managing withdrawal from drugs and specific guidance for managing withdrawal from alcohol, sedatives, opioids, and stimulants in carceral settings. Particular attention is given to how treatment may affect older adults, pregnant individuals, and persons with a polysubstance use disorder.
Over 60% of adults sentenced to jail experience substance use disorder compared to 5% of the general population.[1] Among these individuals, withdrawal-related deaths often occur within days or weeks of incarceration.[2] The challenges associated with treating withdrawal leave many local governments and correctional facilities to devise non-traditional approaches to providing care, often commanding additional resources and calling for collaborations with community partners, local governments, and health providers to support successful implementation.
“Traditional treatments for substance use disorder were developed prior to today’s opioid crisis and not designed for correctional settings,” says NIC Director (A) Alix M. McLearen, Ph.D. ”With this guide, we deliver a resource to jails throughout the country to save lives and help people achieve and maintain recovery for the long term after release. I would like to thank the NIC team for their outstanding effort in partnering with others to bring this necessary product to fruition.”
Guidelines for Managing Substance Abuse Withdrawal in Jails is one of a collection of resources made available by NIC to aid custody staff and decision makers in addressing the prevalence of substance use disorder and withdrawal in jails. The guide offers specific approaches that are tailored to the needs of jails and account for disparities in size, resources, and lengths of stay that can affect the ability of jails to provide individuals with care.
The document supports national efforts to reduce deaths associated with the misuse of controlled substances, including opioids. Additional training and resources are available through the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program website supported by NIC and BJA. Correctional stakeholders are also eligible to take NIC’s free Naloxone Administration e-course.
Guidelines for Managing Substance Abuse Withdrawal in Jails: A Tool for Local Government Officials, Jail Administrators, Correctional Officers, and Health Care Professionals is endorsed by the National Sheriffs Association, the American Jail Association, the American Correctional Association, the National Association of Counties, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care.
[1] Bronson, Jennifer, Jessica Stroop, Stephanie Zimmer, and Marcus Berzofsky, June 2017, Drug Use, Dependence, and Abuse Among State Prisoners and Jail Confined Persons, 2007–2009, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics: 3, NCJ 250546, retrieved February 9, 2022 from https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/dudaspji0709.pdf.
[2] Bureau of Justice Statistics, Mortality in Local Jails, 2000-2008, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics: 3, NCJ 250546
