141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

281477
Advanced cognitive treatment services (ACTS) associated with significant reduction in substance abuse in ex-offenders

Monday, November 4, 2013

Josephine Wilson, DDS, PhD , Substance Abuse Resources and Disability Issues Program, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
Leon Hardin, MBA , Department of Community Health, Boonshoft School of Medicine Wright State University, Kettering, OH
Jamie Gee , Montgomery County Office of Ex-Offender Reentry, Dayton, OH
Amy Piner , Montgomery County Office of Ex-Offender Reentry, Dayton, OH
Michael Ward , Montgomery County Office of Ex-Offender Reentry, Dayton, OH
Background: The Montgomery County Office of Ex-Offender Reentry collaborated with the Substance Abuse Resources and Disability Issues Program in the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University and 12 community organizations that serve ex-offenders to deliver an intensive 10-week program called Advanced Cognitive Treatment Services (ACTS). Based on the evidence-based Thinking for a Change intervention, ACTS is a 300-hr cognitive-behavioral therapy program focused on cognitive restructuring, social-skills development, and development of problem-solving skills. In addition, community organizations offered peer support, case management, SUD treatment, housing, child support, education and employment services. Methods: Ninety-one ex-offenders (79 male; 46 high-risk and 45 moderate-risk for re-offending) were randomly assigned to the ACTS treatment group or a control group within a week of reentry. Before and immediately after the 10-week treatment period, the voluntary participants completed the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Symptom Distress Scale (SDS), and the AUDIT. ANOVAs were conducted to compare test scores for high- and moderate-risk ex-offenders in the treatment and control groups. Results: DAST and SDS scores were significantly reduced for ex-offenders following the ACTS treatment, compared to controls. Significant interactions indicated that high-risk ex-offenders in the ACTS group were positively affected by the intervention, compared to high-risk ex-offenders in the control group whose scores significantly worsened over time. Conclusions: ACTS appeared to play a positive role in reducing drug abuse problems, especially for high-risk ex-offenders. Reductions in DAST scores were associated with improvements in SWLS and SDS scores and reduced recidivism rates.

Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe the community-based Advanced Cognitive Treatment Services (ACTS) program. Explain the differential effects of the ACTS program on high-risk and moderate-risk ex-offenders. Assess the ability of your community to support an ACTS program for ex-offenders.

Keywords: Substance Abuse, Criminal Justice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal investigator or co-principal investigator of multiple federally funded grants focusing on substance abuse. Among my scientific interests is substance abuse treatment and prevention for underserved populations including ex-offenders.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.