title: Feasibility of a computerized intervention for offenders with substance use disorders: a research note.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite evidence that treatment is effective in reducing recidivism among inmates with substance use problems, scarce resources mean that few of those in need of treatment actually receive it. Computerized substance abuse interventions could be used to expand access to treatment in prisons without placing an undue burden on resources. The major aim of the study was to compare treatment conditions in terms of their service utilization, skills acquisition, and treatment satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study recruited men and women with substance use disorders from 10 prisons in 4 states. In an open label clinical trial, 494 subjects were randomly assigned either to the Experimental condition, a computerized drug treatment intervention, theTherapeutic Education System(TES;n= 249), or to the Control condition,Standard Care(n= 245). Chi-square tests compared groups on categorical variables and independent samplesttests were used for interval level continuous variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial evidence demonstrated: (1) comparable group rates of session attendance and high rates of TES module completion for experimental subjects; (2) comparable group gains in the development of coping skills; and (3) a more favorable view of TES than ofStandard Care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collectively, these results show that a computerized intervention, such as TES, can be implemented successfully in prison. Given the barriers to the delivery of substance abuse treatment typically encountered in correctional settings, computerized interventions have the potential to fill a significant treatment gap and are particularly well suited to inmates with mild to moderate substance use disorders who often are not treated.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Integration of Research & Practice (CIRP), National Development & Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI), 71 W 23 Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010 USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaple
authors.affiliation: Center for the Integration of Research & Practice (CIRP), National Development & Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI), 71 W 23 Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010 USA.
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sacks
authors.affiliation: Center for the Integration of Research & Practice (CIRP), National Development & Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI), 71 W 23 Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010 USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McKendrick
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, 1 Rope Ferry Road, Hanover, NH 03755-1404 USA.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Marsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminal Justice, Temple University, Gladfelter Hall, 5th Fl, 1115 Polett Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19122 USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belenko
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, 111 Medical Behavioral Science Bldg 0086, Lexington, KY 40536-0086 USA.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leukefeld
authors.affiliation: Criminal Justice Research Group, Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), 11075 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 100, Los Angeles, 90025 USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prendergast
authors.affiliation: Economics, Health Administration & Policy Program, and Health Economics Research Group, University of Miami, 5202 University Dr, Merrick Bldg, Rm 121F, POB 248162, Coral Gables, FL 33124-2030 USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: French
keywords: Computerized intervention; Correctional settings; Offenders; Substance abuse treatment; Substance use