Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is helping lead a new push to strengthen substance abuse treatment behind bars.
Sen. Ossoff recently joined a bipartisan group of Senators introducing the bipartisan STRONGER Act toreduce recidivism by providing treatment for inmates with substance use disorders.
The bipartisan bill would reauthorize the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) program and allow state and Federal correctional facilities to use grant funding for medication-assisted drug treatment.
It would also require staff to be trained on the science of addiction and promote strategies for continuing care during and after incarceration.
“Access to substance abuse treatment while incarcerated is essential. Our bipartisan bill will increase access to substance abuse treatment in prisons, reduce drug abuse and criminal activity behind bars and in our communities, and put more people on a path toward better and healthier lives,” Sen. Ossoff said.
According to the National Institutes of Health, studies show nearly 65% of inmates have an unaddressed substance abuse disorder and additional 20% were under the influence at the time of their crime. When addiction is left unaddressed, individuals leaving prison are significantly more likely to reoffend and are 129% more likely to die of an overdose than the general population.
Sen. Ossoff continues working to combat substance abuse and addiction and strengthen public safety.
Last year, Sen. Ossoff launched an inquiry into the conditions of incarceration in Georgia and nationwide, aiming to strengthen oversight of jails and prisons in which human rights abuses have been reported.
Last April, Sen. Ossoff introduced the Federal Prison Oversight Act to establish new, independent oversight of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and create an Ombudsman to investigate the health, safety, welfare, and rights of incarcerated persons and staff.
In 2022, Sen. Ossoff’s Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act was signed into law to help rural communities experiencing a high level of opioid overdoses respond to the crisis.
Click here to read the STRONGER Act.
# # #
