Willard campus drug treatment

Willard is a fairly well known Drug Treatment Campus, also called a “DTC” for short, that is operated by the DOCS in co-operation with the OASAS. It was launched in 1995 as a different option for sentencing low-level drug offenders as well as parole violators who otherwise would have been sentenced to do time in a traditional prison. The Willard program was created as an alternative to serving time in a “traditional” prison to deal with the problem of relapse into drug addiction.

Recovery is a difficult road, and it is rare that an addict does not fall into relapse. According to most accounts, relapse is regarded as normal in the recovery process. Before Willard, however, there were few alternatives for the addict who had relapsed. It was either throw the person into prison or turn a blind eye.

Willard DCT now offers another option. The Willard DTC is a very demanding, three-month long, 'Shock' Incarceration-style residential therapeutic program. It is followed up with six months of out-patient treatment in the community under close supervision by assigned parole officers. For the drug addict, Willard is a reprieve from having to serve a full prison term as well as an opportunity to tackle his or her addiction and kick it once and for all. And should he, or she, refuse to participate properly in Willard's program, a maximum-security prison is literally right next door.

Willard DTC is a 'milder' version of what is known as 'Shock Incarceration', which is the DOCS strictly structured and regimented "boot camp" style program. It is modified to reflect the shorter program duration, which is 90 day instead of 6 months, and the somewhat relaxed restrictions that may apply to participants' age and physical condition. Willard DTC is a therapeutic community that combines military discipline, physical exercise, substance abuse treatment and counseling, education and work.

24 Hour Addiction Treatment & Intervention Assistance

All Willard staff members are specially trained in military discipline, therapy counseling, and other services. A regimented schedule teaches time management, which is typically considered to be a problem for addicts and alcoholics. The Willard day begins at 5:30am with physical training which is supposed to help the detoxification process and apparently to help emphasize self-discipline. The rest of the morning and the early afternoon is given to academic and vocational training; these are alternated with work assignments either at the institution or in the surrounding community. From 4 to 9 pm. Parolees are forced participate in substance abuse counseling sessions. These sessions are for learning the physical and psychological facts of addiction, how to cope with frustration, anxiety and stress.