Treating Addiction to Encourage Long-Term Recovery

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office’s (FCSO) history of innovation, outcomes and recovery for people with substance use disorders (SUDs) at the Adult Detention Center (ADC) is noteworthy. In 2018, FCSO launched Striving to Achieve Recovery (STAR), a voluntary jail-based SUDs program that removes stigma and reduces involvement in the criminal justice system. Peer-led, the recovery-focused program addresses underlying trauma, restores dignity, provides hope, works toward family reunification, and helps build a plan for a future in recovery. More than half of past participants have returned to the community and not recidivated. Since 2020, FCSO offers individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) and ensures wraparound recovery supports. FCSO recognizes OUD as a chronic illness that jails are required to treat. Transformative changes include validated SUDs screening tools and withdrawal protocols, peer support, counseling, workforce training, revised standard operating procedures, harm reduction and enhanced release plans. FCSO strives to be a correctional leader in its efforts. Reentry efforts include peer support and enhanced release supports, such as direct linkages to outpatient clinics/ residential treatment, transportation, recovery housing grants, bridge medications and NARCAN, cell phones, and backpacks with basic transitional items.