ODOC receives national recognition for new substance abuse treatment program

By Tiffany Beasley
ODOC Public Relations Specialist

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is gaining national recognition due to significant revisions to its substance abuse treatment program for inmates in ODOC custody. Clint Castleberry, chief administrator of Classification and Programs, has been invited to represent Oklahoma on a multistate panel at the 2024 American Correctional Association Congress of Correction in August. Castleberry will discuss recent innovative modifications and future plans for the agency’s SAT program.

Representatives from the Arizona Department of Corrections and the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance are joining him on the panel. They will share insights regarding the use of medication-assisted treatment programs in prisons to treat individuals with opioid use disorder. The presentation will explore the two corrections agencies’ experiences in planning, implementing and expanding MAT programs in their facilities. Castleberry will present the different factors considered in designing ODOC’s MAT program through a Residential Substance Abuse Treatment grant. The representatives will discuss why they chose to implement their programs, the challenges and successes, and how they adapt to meet the needs of the staff and incarcerated population. They aim to explain the evolution of substance use disorder treatment among justice-involved populations and the increasing incorporation of MAT treatment in prison facilities.

Historically, the agency’s SAT programs have not included the medicinal component. The content and program design were based on best practices of correctional intervention: individualized assessments, treatment plans, and evidence-based curricula. Medication is a new component that will be introduced for inmates identified through a specific screening process. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services guided ODOC’s incorporation of medication into the treatment program design. ODMHSAS and ODOC signed an interagency agreement to partner on developing and providing MAT services using RSAT funds. Castleberry explained, “The services provided through this grant will address a treatment need for those nearing release from incarceration and will hopefully reduce instances of overdoses and deaths.”

"Access to these medications is a life-saving addition to Oklahoma prisons. We know that unique challenges exist in providing this service within prison systems and appreciate working alongside the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to support this creative approach to care. This is just one example of the strong partnership between our two agencies, which we look forward to expanding to provide excellent services to all Oklahomans,” stated ODMHSAS Deputy Commissioner Nisha Wilson.

These changes were catalyzed by a 2022 review conducted by Advocates for Human Potential, contracted through the BJA, to provide technical assistance to RSAT grant recipients. Feedback was provided in seven categories: 1) Intake, Screening, and Assessment; 2) Core Treatment Components; 3) Core Program Components; 4) Provision of Medications and Health Care; 5) Continuing Care/Reintegration; 6) Staffing and Training; and 7) Data Collection. The reviews were conducted as programs returned to normal operations after COVID protocols were lifted.

Once the assessment reports were complete, Castleberry and the ODOC Programs staff reviewed the recommendations. Some were minor and easily corrected, while others required more attention. Though a corrective action plan was not required, one was developed to address deficiencies and monitor improvements. One consistent recommendation in the reports was initiating medication-assisted treatment within programming. Castleberry said, “Even though change is never easy, one thing I’ve been most proud of is that most everyone has been open to this concept.” 

Within two weeks of receiving the assessment results, Pauline Wills, clinical service coordinator, immediately created a thorough corrective action plan, and the Programs staff began addressing the deficiencies. Stephanie Adams, administrator of Programs, stated, "One of the most important overarching concepts we wanted to incorporate into training was ensuring staff understood the ‘why’ behind these changes.”

During this process, the agency expanded its longstanding partnership with ODMHSAS. In 2023, both state agencies sent a group to attend a policy academy hosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in Washington, D.C. There, they met other state corrections professionals developing medication for opioid use disorder services. “We discovered the other states did not have this same interagency partnership,” Castleberry said. “Our partnership with ODMHSAS is one of the biggest highlights from the policy academy and something I am very proud of. It’s been a collaborative process as we continue to develop our MAT program.”

ODOC was awarded funding through the RSAT grant to fully fund MAT at two designated facilities, Lexington Correctional Center in Lexington, Okla., and Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in McLoud, Okla. Other SAT programs will continue to be funded, and ODOC is exploring opportunities to expand services.

On average, approximately 600-700 ODOC inmates receive SAT monthly. In May 2024, there were 671. Through the MAT expansion, the Programs unit aims to reduce the influx of drugs into the facilities, decrease overdoses and deaths during and after incarceration, and lower instances of behavioral misconduct and recidivism.

These new initiatives showcase ODOC’s dedication to changing lives of those in its care and by extension, improving lives of all Oklahomans.