North Charlotte Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis and his colleagues have introduced the Supporting Treatment and Recovery Over Narcotics for Growth, Empowerment, and Rehabilitation (STRONGER) Act aimed at reducing recidivism and tackling addiction in prisons. The bill seeks to update and reauthorize the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) program, which provides treatment and recovery resources to incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders.

Senator Tillis emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, "This life-saving legislation will expand access to the necessary resources and tools to more effectively address substance use disorders among incarcerated individuals. By expanding treatment options, developing new training requirements for staff, and allowing those struggling with substance use disorder to seek evidence-based treatment, this legislation will save lives and prepare individuals for reintegration into their community."

The RSAT program was established under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. It provides grants to every state and U.S. territory to support substance use disorder treatment programs in state prisons and local jails. These grants also fund community-based aftercare and post-release treatment, including medication-assisted treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, employment assistance, transitional housing, and mental health services.

The STRONGER Act aims to reauthorize RSAT funding for Fiscal Years 2025-2029 and introduce critical updates to the program. These updates include allowing grantees to offer treatment to individuals pretrial, strengthening the requirements for treatment services to adhere to established clinical standards, and ensuring continuity of care and access to medications after release to reduce the risk of relapse and overdose deaths.

The bill also proposes that program staff receive training on the science of addiction, strategies for continuity of care during and after incarceration, and evidence-based behavioral therapies used to treat substance use disorder. It aims to build capacity in prisons and jails to meet contemporary standards of medical care for substance use disorders, and it allows grantees to use funds to obtain training in best practices for treating substance use disorders.

Importantly, the STRONGER Act has garnered support from various organizations, including the Addiction Policy Forum, American Correctional Association, American Psychological Association, Mental Health America, National League of Cities, and the United States Conference of Mayors.

The introduction of the STRONGER Act is a significant step towards addressing substance abuse in prisons and reducing recidivism rates. By expanding access to treatment and recovery resources, providing training for staff, and ensuring continuity of care for individuals with substance use disorders, this legislation aims to break the cycle of addiction and prepare incarcerated individuals for successful reintegration into society.