Department of Correction
George M. Little, Commissioner

Substance Abuse

TDOC's substance abuse programs are based on the idea that the participant is ultimately responsible for his or her recovery.  Participants work closely with treatment staff to develop individual treatment goals and strategies.  Mandated treatment can result in longer stays in the program in order to achieve success. 

Currently, TDOC offers the following substance abuse treatment options:

1. Drug Education - Available at all TDOC facilities.
2. Correctional Treatment Academy - A nine to twelve month structured high intensity modified therapeutic community for serious and violent offenders with additional issues other than substance abuse.
3. Substance Abuse Felony Treatment - A nine to twelve month modified therapeutic community for non-violent offenders.
4. Transition Center - A nine to twelve month program modified therapeutic community with a focus on re-entry issues such as community services, vocational educational and employment readiness for offenders transitioning back to the community. TDOC promotes these programs to provide inmates with an opportunity to break the cycle of addiction and recidivism. Further, we are committed to the idea that individual inmates can and do succeed with appropriate treatment. TDOC recidivism rates are much lower for drug addicted offenders who successfully complete intensive treatment programs.

TDOC is also committed to its zero tolerance policy related to inmate drug/alcohol use within state correctional facilities.  All inmates incarcerated in a state operated or state funded correctional facility shall be subject to urinalysis testing at any time during their incarceration in accordance with Policy #506.21, Inmate Drug/Alcohol Testing (in pdf format)(109 kb).  Each inmate is expected to review policy to familiarize themselves with the requirements for urinalysis testing.  Inmates shall be subject to disciplinary action for the following:

1. Failure to submit to drug testing or to provide a urine sample within two hours of the request.
2. Tampering or attempting to tamper with the specimen or test results.
3. Receiving a positive test result for which there is no satisfactory explanation.

• Education
• Good Samaritan Network
• Inmate Jobs
• Parole Technical Violator Division Program
• Pre-Release
• Religious Services
• Substance Abuse
• Tennessee Reentry Collaborative
• Transition Communities
• Victim Services
• Volunteer Opportunities