Effective Heroin & Opioid Supervision

The old ways of dealing with individuals addicted to heroin and other opioids, which is sticking them in jail or placing them into a program where the heart of the issue is not being addressed, is not working. As of now, the way of dealing with this population is a cycle of failure, leading to loss of life and more crime. The same issues the persons were dealing with before being arrested, whether it be trauma, mental illness or other factors, are still there after they are released. Then the process starts all over again and within a short period of time they are back in jail, if they have not overdosed. Every individual is very different and needs very different things to be successful in his or her recovery. This needs to be kept as a constant reminder when engaging individuals in opiate recovery. Treatment needs to be well-rounded; not just treating the addiction but also the compulsion and the issues within the individual. The process of recovery and living life after heroin and other opioids is extremely difficult. For this reason, if a person is committed to making the change it is our responsibility to have the knowledge and the tools to support them in the battle on which they are about to embark.This model was constructed with research, evidence-based practices, rich conversations with other leaders in the field, experiences and those currently in this battle. When brought together, this model provides an innovative new way of supervision for offenders struggling with opiate addiction. This way of supervising requires a change of heart in the way of looking at offenders. It