Patches to be Used to Determine Sobriety

On Feb. 6, officials will gather at the Harrisburg Community Corrections Center for a training in the application of drug testing sweat patches that will be applied to reentrants. The sweat patches will involve only State Intermediate Punishment non-residents (those who are in a phase of SIP that allows the individual to reside at home). While DOC officials test the use of sweat patches, they will continue to conduct urine tests. Once the pilot test of the patches is concluded, officials will determine their efficacy and whether their use should be expanded to other centers.

How the Sweat Patch Works:

Trained officials place the tamper-proof patch on the reentrant's shoulder. After a set period of time, the patch is removed and sent to a lab for testing for a variety of drugs, including the extended opioid panel.