COMPREHENSIVE ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM AS OF OCTOBER 1991

• NCJ Number: 142800
• Author(s): K Canestrini
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 59 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; New York State Dept of Correctional Services; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report provides an overview of the Comprehensive Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment (CASAT) Program, implemented by New York State's Department of Correctional Services, after 1 year of operation.

Abstract

The first program phase involved moving CASAT participants to 200-bed annexes starting in August 1990, and capacity was reached at each annex by November 1990. CASAT participants successfully completed this phase and moved to the second phase of community reintegration between March and October 1991. The third phase involved aftercare. A total of 793 inmates participated in the first phase, and the average age of participants was 29.4 years. About half of the participants were black, 39 percent were Hispanic, and 10 percent were white; 78 percent were from the New York City area. Almost half of the participants were convicted of a drug crime; 77 percent were sentenced as a second or persistent felony offender; and 85 percent were identified at reception as drug abusers, alcoholics, or both. A total of 773 cases completed the first phase and moved into the community reintegration phase. In 38 percent of these cases, alcohol use preceded drug use; 35 percent of the cases began alcohol and drug use at the same age. The average age of first alcohol use was 14.7 years, while the average age of first drug use was 15.5 years. Seventy percent of the participants had a history of using four or more substances. Of the cases, 80 percent had a history of alcohol use, 78 percent had used cocaine, 75 percent had used marijuana and/or hashish, 39 percent had used heroin, and 35 percent had used crack. On average, participants had been using substances for 11.5 years. The most frequently reported substance of choice was heroin, followed by cocaine. White participants, however, were most likely to report alcohol as their substance of choice. Of 74 cases released into the aftercare phase, 85 percent were released to the New York City area. An overview of the CASAT Program is provided. Appendixes contain a map showing correctional facility locations and data on the non-CASAT population.