Offender Substance Abuse Programme (OSAP)

The OSAP programme is targeted towards both male and female offenders who misuse substances. It is a modular programme which aims to educate and show offenders how to reduce or stop their substance misuse.

Module1 Develops the motivation to change and explores the association between substance misuse and offending. During this module, offenders are required to set specific goals for change.

Module 2 Focuses on how to manage risk, to explore and monitor thoughts regarding substance misuse and to provide strategies to cope with cravings. Personal high risk situations are also identified and explored.

Module 3 & 4 This part of the programme seeks to help offenders develop their personal relapse prevention plans and are introduced to the relapse procedure. This includes learning skills such as ‘coping by thinking’ and ‘coping by doing’. Offenders are encouraged to practice these relapse techniques in a group setting and out in the community.

Module 5 This module enables participants to tie in their combined learning form the previous modules. It assists in the development of setting good positive goals for a drug free and crime free life.

The programme consists of 26 sessions of two and a half hours, spread over 12 to 14 weeks.

Download Sentencer Leaflet

For more information about the work of programmes within prisons, please click here.

Download the OSAP leaflet