---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 C.F.R. § 550.51"
title: "28"
number: "550.51"
heading: "Drug abuse education course."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/28/550.51"
---

# §550.51. Drug abuse education course.

- (a) **Purpose of the drug abuse education course.** All institutions provide a drug abuse education course to:
  - (1) Inform inmates of the consequences of drug/alcohol abuse and addiction; and
  - (2) Motivate inmates needing drug abuse treatment to apply for further drug abuse treatment, both while incarcerated and after release.
- (b) **Course placement.**
  - (1) Inmates will get primary consideration for course placement if they were sentenced or returned to custody as a violator after September 30, 1991, when unit and/or drug abuse treatment staff determine, through interviews and file review that:
    - (i) There is evidence that alcohol or other drug use contributed to the commission of the offense;
    - (ii) Alcohol or other drug use was a reason for violation either of supervised release (including parole) or Bureau community status;
    - (iii) There was a recommendation (or evaluation) for drug programming during incarceration by the sentencing judge; or
    - (iv) **There is evidence of a history of alcohol or other drug use.**
  - (2) Inmates may also be considered for course placement if they request to participate in the drug abuse education program but do not meet the criteria of [paragraph (b)(1)](#b-1) of this section.
  - (3) Inmates may not be considered for course placement if they:
    - (i) Do not have enough time remaining to serve to complete the course; or
    - (ii) **Volunteer for, enter or otherwise complete a RDAP.**
- (c) **Consent.** Inmates will only be admitted to the drug abuse education course if they agree to comply with all Bureau requirements for the program.
- (d) **Completion.** To complete the drug abuse education course, inmates must attend and participate during course sessions and pass a final course exam. Inmates will ordinarily have at least three chances to pass the final course exam before they lose privileges or the effects of non-participation occur (see [paragraph (e)](#e) of this section).
- (e) **Effects of non-participation.**
  - (1) If inmates considered for placement under [paragraph (b)(1)](#b-1) of this section refuse participation, withdraw, are expelled, or otherwise fail to meet attendance and examination requirements, such inmates:
    - (i) Are not eligible for performance pay above maintenance pay level, or for bonus pay, or vacation pay; and
    - (ii) Are not eligible for a Federal Prison Industries work program assignment (unless the Warden makes an exception on the basis of work program labor needs).
  - (2) The Warden may make exceptions to the provisions of this section for good cause.

## Notes

### Source

Source: 74 FR 1897, Jan. 14, 2009, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 18 U.S.C. 3521-3528, 3621, 3622, 3624, 4001, 4042, 4046, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984 as to offenses committed after that date), 5039; 21 U.S.C. 848; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510; Title V, Pub. L. 91-452, 84 Stat. 933 (18 U.S.C. Chapter 223).