August, 2025

Ellsworth Correctional Facility:

Congratulations, Substance Abuse Program Graduates!

Overcoming addiction issues can be a real obstacle for a lot of our residents. Pictured are the most recent Substance Abuse Programming graduates from August 25, 2025. They have learned to absorb curriculum, utilize the tools, and practice these cognitive behavioral interventions to change their behavior, dramatically increasing their opportunity for success now and in the future.

Substance Abuse Programming through Heartland Regional Alcohol and Drug Assessment Center (HRADAC) is a cognitive behavioral approach to substance abuse issues and is 45 sessions long . This class is not categorized as Substance Abuse Treatment, as they are not treating the substance abuse, rather providing cognitive behavioral interventions for residents to use in managing their own substance abuse issues.

When asked what tools they had learned that they were taking with them, these men were ready with their responses! They have custom-fit these tools for themselves and are already using them today. Some of these responses were:

-“Take a moment.”

-“Look deep down inside yourself to find the issues.”

-“Don’t get involved in risky thoughts.”

-“Remembering the things I really value and keeping that in the front of my mind.”

-“I have learned how to communicate my needs.”

-“Coping by thinking, coping by doing.”

-“Keeping my thoughts and feelings in check.”

Excellent job gentlemen, we are so very proud of the transformation you are making! We are so excited for the success you are building for yourself!