Crossroads is proud to announce the launch of its Soft Re-Entry Program, which was designed entirely to support incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) upon their release in response to an overwhelming need among this population.

Substance use continues to pose a significant challenge to our society, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. According to the CDC, there were more than 109,000 overdoses in 2022. Recent data from SAMSHA shows that, in 2022, 48.7 million people (or 17.3%) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 29.5 million who had an alcohol use disorder (AUD), 27.2 million who had a drug use disorder (DUD), and 8.0 million people who had both an AUD and a DUD. As far-reaching and devastating as this is, substance use disorders in the incarcerated population far exceed these alarming numbers. The prevalence of SUDs among incarcerated individuals is even more startling. According to National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 65% of the prison population meets the criteria for an SUD.

The reasons behind this disparity of SUD in incarcerated individuals, when compared to the general population, are complex, and include:

  1. Lack of Access to Treatment: While prisons provide medical care, access to evidence-based addiction treatment remains limited.
  2. Recidivism: The revolving door of incarceration worsens SUD. Released inmates face immense challenges reintegrating into society, leading them to relapse and re-offend.
  3. Health Consequences Incarcerated individuals with SUD experience a host of health issues:
  • Withdrawal: Many inmates arrive at prison already dependent on substances. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe, affecting their physical and mental well-being.
  • Co-Occurring Disorders: SUD often coexists with mental health conditions. Without proper treatment, these dual diagnoses contribute to a cycle of incarceration and relapse.

Many individuals upon release will return to using at levels similar to what they used before incarceration, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Unfortunately, their bodies can no longer tolerate the same doses, increasing their risk of overdose and death. It is vitally important for those previously incarcerated to get treatment for substance use during their transition home.

Here’s why:

  • Very few prisons offer medication for substance use disorder.
  • People released from incarceration are 40 times more likely to die of an overdose in the first two weeks after release compared to the general population.
  • The risk of overdose death is highest among recently released women.

“Crossroads knows that the transition from incarceration back to home can be challenging for people with substance use disorder. That’s why we’ve made the process for people to get treatment as easy as possible,” says Dr. William Wolf, Medical Director, Crossroads. “Our outpatient treatment centers provide medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder. A New York study showed that programs that provide these types of medications to formerly incarcerated individuals reduce the risk of fatal overdose by 80%.”

Crossroads also offers Instant Intake®, where patients can access treatment through a virtual or in-person appointment as well as bridge prescriptions, which can provide medication if the patient cannot be seen immediately at one of our centers to ensure that they have immediate access to the help they need.

About Crossroads Since 2005, Crossroads has been at the forefront of treating patients with substance use disorder (SUD) Currently operating 100+ centers across nine states, we are a family of doctors, nurse practitioners, counselors and professionals dedicated to providing the most accessible and highest-quality treatment options to combat the growing substance and opioid use disorder epidemic.

We create individualized treatment plans that use evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and behavioral health therapies to help those with SUD pave their paths to recovery. The outcomes are often life-saving and lead to significantly improved lives for our patients, their families and their communities.

To learn more about the Crossroads Soft Re-Entry program, please visit crossroadstreatmentcenters.com/soft-re-entry-program or call 877.848.9294 to make a referral to our program.

Media:

Crystal Morley VP Marketing and Communications, Crossroads Treatment Centers cmorley@ctc.care

Kali Gill Gregory FCA crossroads@gregoryfca.com