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| Substance Abuse Education Makes a Difference at Ohio Training School |
| By Corrections Connection Staff |
| Published: 10/08/2001 |
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When teaching youthful offenders with substance abuse problems about the risks of their behavior, it takes a unique approach to make some headway. The Hillcrest Training School in Ohio realized this several years ago and administrators decided to change their disease-based substance abuse education model to something different. The school's new approach is a cognitive behavioral program called Criminal Conduct and Substance Abuse Treatment - Strategies for Self created by Dr. Kenneth Wanberg and Dr. Harvey Milkman. 'What we liked about the program was it was designed for a similar population and it had been tested and proven effective with adults. They were beginning to use with adolescents,' said Joe Zurad, superintendent of the school, which has 142 treatment beds for youth between the ages of 12 and 18. Zurad said one of the challenges with the substance abuse programming the school used previously was officials had no research to say whether it was working to deter the youths' criminal behavior. The Corrections Connection's Education Network recently spoke with Zurad and other officials at the school about the program and its benefits. Q; What is the population at the Hillcrest School? Joe Zurad: Eighty percent of the population have felonies on their record. Offenses include anything from a misdemeanant offense to drug traffickers and sex offenders and youth with fire arms charges. We are a facility that is the last chance before they are sent to one of the state facilities. Fifty percent need some sort of intense substance abuse treatment and another 20 percent can benefit from lighter substance abuse programming. Q: What prompted a change in substance abuse educational programming? Zurad: A correctional program assessment [was done] and [a consultant] made recommendations for change for our entire program. She pointed us in the direction of a cognitive development program. We had conversations about our population and the facility. [After choosing Criminal Conduct and Substance Abuse Treatment] Dr Wanburg did a four-day training initially with 20 staff. One of the neat things is it is cross disciplinary program. The program facilitators are not only therapists; they are skills trainers and educators, because you are enabling them to build skills to prevent them from becoming involved in the system again. Q: Can you talk about the unique aspects of this program? Tim Sharp, Program Administrator: One of the most unique things is when you think about substance abuse programming you think about how substance abuse harms their lives. This program doesn't talk about that. We are trying to change their thinking and behavior. We try to develop the skills. We teach them how to give compliments and receive compliments, and how to start a conversation. It is not just the same old drugs are bad for you. Zurad: What we found with a lot of these [offenders] is the social network is made up of other drug users and abusers. [We start with] some of the basic skill building. They don't know how to start a conversation. They just walk up to someone and say 'Want to smoke a joint?' So they practice that. Brian Griffiths, Deputy Superintendent, Programs and Services: I've worked in the public and private sector. I'm fairly convinced we deliver substance abuse services better than any other place I have been in. The program is incredibly intense. You won't find many places that hit the client four times a week. It is also unique because of the way they draw the parallel between the drug culture and criminal behavior. Q: How is the program set up? Zurad: It is a four and a half month program. To accommodate the lessons, we had to facilitate four sessions a week. [There are] three stages of the program. The program in the first stage focuses on ambivalence issues. It enables the clients to get a perspective on their substance abusing behaviors. In the second stage they engage and internalize the skills we were teaching them. We are empowering them to make changes, knowing that there is a clear cut relationship between substance abuse and criminal behavior. In the last stage it focuses on their commitment to the program. They have practiced the skills and there is an ownership phase where they [take] the skills and apply them. Sharp: The phases challenge them to change. The basis is to get the kids in know each others names, build some trust and rapport, and basic education on substance abuse. We give them some additional assessments and identify their problems. That takes about 10 weeks. Then we go into Phase 2. We ask the residents, Are you willing to make a commitment to do something about it? It also involves active listening, active sharing, being aware of negative thoughts, anger management problems, solving and managing cravings, managing guilt anger and depression, and understanding values. Phase 3 is in the community. They are released on aftercare status. They have a worker they report to and they have to come to group once a week. They practice their skills in a real-life situation. They will go back to the environment they came from. In many of the homes there are issues and they go back to the same friends and school, but they are developing skills to better manage these problems. Q: What results have you seen from the program? Zurad: The program was implemented in October 1999. The year 2000 was first complete year. We had 83 residents complete and 43 completed the aftercare phase. So far this year we have had 48 residents complete the on-grounds portion and 22 complete the aftercare phase. We have an extensive drug screens for the residents because the kids go home on the weekends. In 1998 we ran 471 drug screens for those in the community, 48 percent were positive for cocaine, marijuana or both, but remember you are dealing with kids with severe problems. In 1999, it decreased to 46 percent and in 2000; after the program was implemented we had 36 percent. So far in 2001 we have had 40 percent positive screens. Sharp: The program is society and resident focused. We are giving them the skills they need to make it in the community and society. We are focusing on their offending behavior. If we get dirty urines, we are concerned but we are also look at the offenses. Since we have implemented the program, we are having more youth successfully complete the program and fewer go onto the state institutions. The program makes the distinction between lapse and relapse. If they go out and use again and then report that and get back on the right track, [that is positive.] There are more lapses than relapses. For more information, you can reach the Hillcrest School at 513-552-1213. |
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