NYS OASAS
New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services
The New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) oversees one of the nation's largest addiction services systems with more than 1,600 prevention, treatment and recovery programs. OASAS treatment program assist about 100,000 people on any given day and more than 240,000 individuals every year. OASAS plans, develops and regulates the stat's system of chemical dependence and gambling treatment agencies.
OASAS Chemical Dependence and Criminal Justice Services
Alcoholism and substance abuse are correlated with criminal activity and are primary risk factors for criminal recidivism. Since 1995, OASAS has worked with the criminal justice stakeholders, Parole, Probation, DOCS and Drug Courts to demonstrate that treatment by OASAS-certified providers is an effective and cost-beneficial tool for increasing public safety and decreasing criminal recidivism rates.
Over the past several years, OASAS has successfully worked to effect attitudinal changes regarding the benefits of chemical dependence treatment through education and a number of collaborative projects. A successful collaborative interagency process to address the addiction needs of people engaged in the criminal justice system has been the result.