Corrections is no stranger to substance abuse. With more than 22 million Americans dealing with some type of chemical dependence, COs face days filled with drug offenders who go through withdrawal behind bars.

As prison populations swell, officers and officials alike struggle to handle the side effects of a life of addiction, crime and dependency. Recent statistics indicate that almost 80 percent of crimes are committed under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which lead to rising incarceration.

But with a new treatment program called Prometa, there is hope for reducing those withdrawal symptoms, and possibly a chance to help substance abusers kick their habits for good. Prometa is an experimental drug treatment program based on a combination of prescription medical injections and therapy.

Prometa's pilot program in Pierce County, Washington, are already generating positive feedback from officials.

 “It's a damn miracle,” says Jack Hill, Director of the Pierce County Department of Assigned Counsel, which provides public defense attorneys for those accused of crimes. “I don't think I can overstate the potential of Prometa. This is a new era in drug treatment. This is like nothing I've ever seen before. This treatment component will change the justice system.”

Forty Pierce County Alliance Drug Court patients participated in the Prometa program for 60 days. Officials described these patients as severely dependent on cocaine and methamphetamine, with many of them having gone through the drug court system before.

“Pierce County Alliance has worked with addiction for more than 30 years,” says Terree Schmidt-Whelan, PCA executive director. “Methamphetamine addiction is a huge problem here. We're always looking for ways to treat people more effectively. Prometa is very promising. That's the perfect word for it. We have a lot of hope for Prometa in the future, based on these preliminary findings.”

The treatment had 98 percent of the drug tests returning negative and more than 98 percent of patients reporting that their cravings for drugs had decreased substantially. Typically, only about 50 percent of PC's drug court clients returned with negative drug tests.

Officials also saw a noticeable personality change in the drug court population.

“When you see, firsthand, the difference Prometa makes when you talk to folks who are addicted to meth, it's amazing,” says Hill. “We are used to being abused by that clientele, in custody and out of custody. Sometimes, it takes them weeks if not months to really get free enough of the drug to recover and have a civil conversation. Prometa really changes and shortens that timeline dramatically. It is like night and day for these folks.”

The regimen consists of daily infusions of prescription medication created to reduce the physical affects of withdrawal. Prometa is made up of flumazenil, commonly used to reverse tranquilizer effects, and hydroxyzine, which aids sleep. Gabapentin, a drug usually prescribed to prevent seizures and subdue pained nerves, is also used during the Prometa program.

It works by targeting certain receptors in the brain, depending on the substance addiction being treated.  For example, a Prometa patient with a cocaine dependency would begin their treatment with a thorough medical exam and urine and blood tests. For the next three days, patients take oral and intravenous medical and nutritional supplements. Over the next three weeks, patients return for two more visits for supplements. Then, one month of prescription and nutritional medications are prescribed.
 
Only licensed medical professionals can administer the treatment, but drug court officials remain optimistic that it could be used in corrections.

“I am really curious as to how this would work in corrections,” says Hill. “I think it's a very interesting opportunity for this treatment program. The treatment community is just starting to come around to this, and I think it has great potential in other fields.”

The program also offers customized after-care programs to support patients during the treatment process. There are variations on the program for those dealing with alcohol and methamphetamine abuse too.

Some medical experts think Prometa may be too good to be true. Addiction scientists say that although the program shows promise, it is certainly not a cure-all, adding that Prometa is just a combination of drugs that have been on the market for a long time but have not been proven effective for drug treatment.

Drug court patients say they feel clear-headed, less anxious and less paranoid. One patient told Pierce County officials she had never been able to complete GED testing because she had trouble concentrating. Once she started using Prometa, she was able to complete the test with no problem – and she passed.

“I think people often forget how difficult it is to be addicted to a drug,” says Schmidt-Whelan. “Our patients feel so much better about themselves. They aren't seeking and craving drugs. People who are addicted to drugs are miserable, but Prometa gets them through the hump of physical and psychological cravings. They have hope, they are more confident, and they feel better about themselves. They also have an increased ability to focus on their recovery during therapy sessions.”

Pierce County continues to stress that the positive results were only from a trial run of the program. Prometa is currently undergoing clinical approval trials.

“A 98 percent non-positive urinalysis rate equates to judges in our drug court saying ‘Oh my gosh, what is this?'  We have clients following through on their rehabilitation programs,” Hill says optimistically. “They are going out into the community and coming back with jobs. It's just astonishing. I don't mean to sound like a car salesman here, but we are more than impressed.”