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Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations: A Research Based Guide

NCJ Number
214977
Date Published
July 2006
Length
18 pages
Annotation
After stating and briefly explaining 13 principles of drug abuse treatment for criminal justice populations, this guide poses and answers 15 frequently asked questions about drug abuse treatment for offenders.
Abstract
The principles of drug abuse treatment for offenders note that drug addiction is a brain disease that affects behavior, and the recovery from drug addiction requires effective treatment, followed by management of the problem over time. Treatment must be of sufficient duration to produce stable behavioral changes. The first step in treatment is assessment, which enables the tailoring of treatment to the needs of individuals. Treatment should target the factors that are linked with the criminal behavior of the offender, and drug use during treatment should be effectively monitored. Supervision conditions for drug-abusing offenders should include treatment planning, and treatment providers should be informed of correctional supervision requirements for each offender. Continuity of care is essential for drug abusers when they reenter the community after being treated in custody. Planning for such care should include strategies to prevent and treat serious, chronic medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis. Treatment management should include a balance of rewards and sanctions that encourage prosocial behavior and treatment participation. When offenders have both drug abuse and mental health problems, an integrated treatment approach is required. The guide's section on frequently asked questions about drug abuse treatment for offenders addresses such issues as why offenders continue abusing drugs after their arrest, why they should be provided treatment for drug abuse, the effectiveness of treatment, whether all drug-abusing offenders are good candidates for treatment, whether relapse risk factors are different for offender populations, and what features of drug treatment for offenders are cost effective.