February 1, 2024
The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office provides model programs for incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders. Sheriff Stacey Kincaid welcomed a Congressional delegation to see first-hand the life transforming addiction treatment and recovery programs in the Adult Detention Center. She says the agency’s multipronged approach begins on day 1 and includes recognizing trauma, identifying triggers, managing stress, developing social supports, setting goals and recommitting after a setback. She describes the wholistic approach as empathetic and non-judgmental rather than punitive.
The visiting delegation included five members of the Congressional Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery (ATR) Caucus: Paul Tonko (NY-20), Abigail Spanberger (VA-7), Madeleine Dean (PA-4), Becca Balint (VT) and Tony Cardenas (CA-29). Also visiting were Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; Chairman Jeffrey McKay, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; and Mayor Catherine Read, City of Fairfax.
“Until about 10 years ago, our Sheriff’s Office, like other law enforcement agencies, did not treat addiction as a chronic illness,” says Kincaid. “We would treat the symptoms but not the cause. My staff and I have learned so much over the past decade which has led us to change the way we think and treat individuals experiencing withdrawals and substance use disorders. We are an extension of the public health care system and, as such, we now proactively focus on addiction prevention, treatment, and harm reduction. Our goal is to reduce stigma, provide hope and save lives.”
Stepping into the Striving to Achieve Recovery (STAR) unit in the Adult Detention Center was a moving experience for the members of Congress and their staff. They were impressed with how openly the participants shared what had gone wrong in their lives and their decision to start on the path of recovery. A participant named Devon was selected by his peers to explain the three 18-week phases of the program, reveal his own experience that led to incarceration, and share how he holds himself accountable on the path to recovery. He also described the essential family component of the program. Other participants voluntarily shared what the program means to them. The group took questions from the visitors and willingly answered.
“We will continue to welcome visitors from all over the state and nation,” noted Kincaid. “I truly hope that our programs can be replicated across the country, not only by other jails and prisons but also outside of a confinement setting. We must work together so that substance use disorders become destigmatized, and a sustainable path to recovery becomes the norm.”
The visit was coordinated by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, which provides strategic support to advocates working to enact and implement laws that save lives. Global Health Advocacy Incubator