Outcome Evaluation of the Wisconsin Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program: The Mental Illness-Chemical Abuse (MICA) Program at Oshkosh Correctional Institution 1998-2000

• NCJ Number: 186190
• Author(s): Kit R. Van Stelle; D. P. Moberg
• Date Published: August 2000
• Length: 155 pages
• Grant Number(s): 98-RT-VX-K005
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation

Annotation

This report presents the methodology and findings of a 2-year outcome evaluation of a component of Wisconsin's Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners project; the methodology included the collection of qualitative and quantitative evaluation research data to assess the effectiveness of the Mental Illness-Chemical Abuse (MICA) Program at Oshkosh Correctional Institution (OSCI), which was implemented with RSAT funds.

Abstract

The 25-bed capacity MICA Treatment Program provides a wide variety of treatment and support services to dually diagnosed men incarcerated within the Wisconsin correctional system. MICA has three primary components: a 8-12 month residential therapeutic community component with a comprehensive array of mental health and substance abuse treatment and support services; an institutional aftercare component that offers supportive services to program graduates while they remain incarcerated after program completion; and a community aftercare component that offers supportive services to program graduates after they are released to the community. Logistic regression analyses that examined MICA's impact on both proximal and distal outcomes show that MICA participants (both completers and terminations) were more likely than the comparison group to be medication compliant, abstinent from substance use, and more stable at 3 months after release. The pattern of results suggests that medication compliance and resulting mental health stability led to abstinence from substance use, which was associated with a decreased likelihood of arrest. The analysis of longer term outcomes must be viewed as preliminary due to the small sample currently available. The findings suggest that MICA should continue to emphasize the importance of medication compliance for participants. Implications are drawn for the continued evaluation of MICA. 31 tables, 38 references, and appended evaluation instruments