Screening and in depth assessment are important
first steps in the substance abuse treatment process. Effective screening and
referral protocols help to 1) screen out individuals who do not need substance
abuse treatment, 2) assess the extent of offenders’ treatment needs in order to
make appropriate referrals, 3) ensure that individuals receive the treatment
that they need, and 4) assess a community’s resource needs.
Interviews of jail inmates completed by staff from The Recovery Center, Fairfield County ADAMH Board. The Center for State Courts provided analysis of the data as part of the Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Grant received by the Fairfield County ADAMH Board, 2013-2016.
The Simple Screening Instrument was given by jail staff to all persons arrested and booked into the Fairfield County Jail (2014-2015). Those who scored ≥ 4, which indicated moderate to high risk for alcohol or drug abuse, were invited to participate in a research project. Those who agreed were interviewed by staff from The Recovery Center and the data was analyzed by The Center for State Courts. The privacy restrictions approved by the National Center for State Court’s Institutional Review Board were followed. Limited demographics were collected to ensure anonymity.