The department has a comprehensive program of substance-abuse testing, sanctions, prevention and treatment throughout its institutions, camps, community residential programs and probation and parole offices.

The MDOC focuses resources primarily on offenders for whom the benefits are likely to be the greatest, which is for those already in or nearing release to the community. Treatment programs for substance abuse are widely available for offenders, with actual placement in programs based on need, appropriateness for treatment, proximity to parole, likelihood of revocation and resources available.

In all treatment, cognitive restructuring and relapse prevention approaches are used.

When offenders are treated in prison, continued outpatient aftercare is a mandatory parole condition.
Enrollment in substance-abuse treatment continues to grow.

Michigan has reduced drug usage in institutions and camps from almost 9 percent when random testing was first started, to less than 1 percent (0.6%). Testing and sanctions such as loss of visiting privileges have had an impact.

Testing for parolees and probationers also occurs using reference laboratory tests, sweat patches and on site tests. Sanctions for offenders testing positive are applied.

The department has been active in seeking federal funds for special pilot programs and has brought in more than $2.5 million in federal funds. These projects, which include the prison-based residential treatment program and various treatment and testing projects, do much to augment the department's efforts in reducing substance abuse.