Applicable in: England and Wales

Addressing Substance Related Offending (ASRO; McMurran and Priestley 2000) is a drug use programme, which has been at least provisionally accredited by the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel (Joint Prison/Probation Accreditation Panel 2002). It is based on a cognitive behavioural model shown to be effective in other settings.

ASRO is a community-based intervention for offenders who have a significant substance abuse problem that is linked to their offending behaviour. It does not include any clinical elements. The programme is divided into four stages, which are used to address targets such as self-control, problem solving and maintaining change:

1. Motivation of offenders to change;
2. The personal scientist;
3. Relapse prevention;
4. Lifestyle modification.

It is most commonly delivered as a requirement of a Community Order, or as a component of a Drug Testing and Treatment Order (DTTO). Community Orders with ASRO are targeted at offenders for whom both drug use and offending is an issue, but who are fairly stable and have no clinical treatment needs.  

The pilot projects have highlighted several issues as affecting the effectiveness of ASRO (Home Office 2002):

• Planning. A coherent plan should be drafted and address the other issues, as well as whether and how an external agency should be involved.
• Good communication systems.
• Appropriate staffing levels.
• Staff training. All tutors should have received the training provided by the Probation Unit on effectively running ASRO. They should also attend booster session.
• Supportive administrative staff.
• Referral and targeting. All those involved should be aware of the manual’s guidelines regarding referral and targeting.
• Programme integrity and monitoring. All sessions should be videotaped, and the tapes should be monitored to develop good practice. Other monitoring information such as psychometrics and feedback forms should be collected.
• Appropriate accommodation and materials.

ASRO and the Programme for Reducing Individual Substance Misuse (PRISM) have currently been adopted by around half of the 42 probation areas. A research evaluation is underway with results due in October 2004.

References
Home Office (2002). Probation offending behaviour programmes – effective practice guide. Home Office development and practice report 2. Home Office. London. (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/dpr2.pdf. Accessed 27 July 2005).

McMurran, M., and Priestley, P. (2000). Addressing substance-related offending (ASRO). Home Office. London.