In 1996 there were over 13 million admissions to local jails. Of those admitted, at least 70 to 80 percent had some sort of substance abuse. Simply warehousing these prisoners does not work, nor does punishment. They often revert to being criminals and, when released back into their communities, continue being troublemakers. Treatment for substance abusers at the local jail level is one way to have a positive impact on the offendersþ lives, change their ways of thinking and their criminal behavior, and improve their chances of returning to society as productive law-abiding citizens. There is no standard treatment program that will be effective with all substance abusers in all prisons and jails. Communities must design their own programs specifically for inmates in local jails. Numerous journal articles and studies can be helpful, as well as discussions with other localities that have experience in designing substance abuse interventions. Federal assistance will also be needed to develop substance abuse treatment efforts at the front end of the criminal justice system.