New York, NY

New York City Department of Corrections

New york

Urban | Population: 8,258,000

Substance misuse among incarcerated individuals in New York City has escalated to alarming levels, mirroring the broader opioid epidemic that has gripped the city. With over 2,650 annual overdose deaths, overdose-related deaths have surged by 80% since 2019, with fentanyl implicated in 80% of these fatalities. Within NYC jails, substance misuse is pervasive, as evidenced by 19.8% of detainees self-reporting drug use during intake, a figure likely understated due to the challenges surrounding accurate reporting. Within NYC jails, overdose incidents surged from 251 in 2021 to 386 in 2023, with Narcan administered 383 times in 2023 alone. Key challenges include limited access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and peer support in jails, particularly for short-stay inmates. The NYC Department of Correction (DOC), through its proposed FY2024 Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program (COSSUP), aims to address this crisis by implementing a multifaceted intervention model. 

Key COSSUP Initiatives

Evidence-based treatment

Provide cognitive behavioral therapy and counseling for individuals in the Key Extended Entry Program, which also delivers medication-assisted treatment.

Deliver evidence-based substance use treatment services, prioritizing individuals in Enhanced Supervision Housing (ESH) and maximum-security units, where in-jail overdose rates are particularly high.

Deliver weekly sessions on financial literacy, employment readiness, and communication skills to reduce recidivism.

Integrated care coordination

Partner with community-based organizations to ensure continuity of care, including transportation to post-release services.

Peer recovery support program

Incarcerated individuals further along in recovery guide participants, fostering accountability and hope.

Anticipated Benefits of Project

• Reduction in overdose fatalities

  This project aims to reduce overdose fatalities through access to timely and effective treatment, including medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD) and naloxone distribution. 

• Increased public safety

  This project aims to increase public safety through seamlessly transitioning individuals from treatment in custody to community-based treatment. 

• Enhanced recovery outcomes

  This project aims encourage recovery and therefore reduce recidivism as individuals are seamlessly transitioned from treatment in custody to community-based treatment.

Collaborative Partners

• New York City Department of Corrections

• Correctional Health Services

• Therapeutic Communities Association

• Community-based organizations, including…

  • Acacia Network

  • Samaritan Daytop Village

  • Phoenix House

Project Director

Kisaan Howard
New York City Department of Corrections
kisaan.howard@doc.nyc.gov
718-546-5401

This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA23GK02258COAP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.