Berkeley County Adult Drug Court

Application for Category 2: Enhancement, requested by Berkeley County Council, West Virginia (Local Authority) on behalf of the 23rd Judicial Circuit Adult Drug Court Program. Berkeley County is classified mixed. Adult Drug Court began operating on November 11, 2015; both pre- and post-adjudication.

Total federal amount request for the life of the grant $744,707.55

Enroll 100 new participants in ADC program.

Target population for the 23rd Judicial Circuit ADC program have high criminogenic risk and high abuse treatment needs. Criteria include: adult, non-violent felony/misdemeanor offenders with no previous/current sex offenses or crimes against a child. Evidence of early onset of substance abuse/use, previous unsuccessful treatment attempts with a family history of crime/addiction, as well as being an addict or Drug/Alcohol dependent and a Berkeley County resident. Arrestee and ADC population are well matched: majority are white, male, average age of 31, and suffering from severe opioid substance use disorder. Three evidence-based practice (EBP) screening and assessment tools are used as part of eligibility determination: Risk and Needs Triage (RANT) tool to determine level of high risk and high needs; Addiction Severity Index (ASI) to establish magnitude of substance use disorder and a Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire (PDSQ) to gauge treatment efficacy for those with co-occurring mental disorders. MAT access is available in the community, those participants who are determined to be clinically in need, are provided access as part of their treatment plan.

ADC Program provides the highest level of individualized treatment for those who are suffering from severe opioid substance use disorders. Upon enrollment in the program, the Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI), is used by the Case Manager to measure risk, criminogenic behavior and predict recidivism. Participants of ADC program have access to a set of cognitive-based therapies (CBT) for substance use disorder treatment including Intensive Outpatient Therapy (IOP), outpatient substance abuse treatment and individual therapy. A set of wrap-around/continuum of care services are provided by a case manager and peer recovery coach including assistance in securing sober living housing, transportation, and accessing additional recovery resources such as Parenting Classes, Career Development and support with learning Life Skills. The Drug Court Program consists of three (3) phases of treatment. Each treatment phase has graduated, step-down requirements, the full program will take twelve (12) months to complete. Graduation/Aftercare plans are implemented for up to one year after program graduation in aid of transitioning to recovery and decreasing recidivism.