Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice

Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations Janelle Prueter Illinois TASC Presented to RSAT West VA Conference July 21, 2011

Session Objectives • Participants will receive an overview of the NIDA treatment principles for criminal justice populations • Participants will explore how to apply these principles in their own programs

“Treatment offers the best alternative for interrupting the drug abuse/criminal justice cycle. ” National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

NIDA Principle 1. Drug addiction is a brain disease that affects behavior.

NIDA Principle 2. Recovery from drug addiction requires effective treatment, followed by management of the problem over time.

NIDA Principle 3. Treatment must last long enough to produce stable behavioral changes.

NIDA Principle 4. Assessment is the first step in treatment.

NIDA Principle 5. Tailoring services to fit the needs of the individual is an important part of effective drug abuse treatment for criminal justice populations.

NIDA Principle 6. Drug use during treatment should be carefully monitored.

NIDA Principle 7. Treatment should target factors that are associated with criminal behavior.

NIDA Principle 8. Criminal justice supervision should incorporate treatment planning for drug abusing offenders, and treatment providers should be aware of correctional supervision requirements.

NIDA Principle 9. Continuity of care is essential for drug abusers re-entering the community.

NIDA Principle 10. A balance of rewards and sanctions encourages prosocial behavior and treatment participation.

A Balance of Graduated Sanctions and Rewards Behavioral research suggests that rewarding good behavior may be equally or more effective than punishing bad behavior, but few programs have the resources to provide rewards, and some professionals object to rewarding offenders for doing what the law already requires. Douglas Marlowe J. D P. H. D. Treatment Research Institute

NIDA Principle 11. Offenders with co-occurring drug abuse and mental health problems often require an integrated treatment approach.

NIDA Principle 12. Medications are an important part of treatment for many drug abusing offenders.

NIDA Principle 13. Treatment planning for drug abusing offenders who are living in or re-entering the community should include strategies to prevent and treat serious, chronic medical conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis.

Twelve-Step Programs and Criminal Justice Treatment • When criminal conduct is addressed through proven criminal justice treatment, 12 -step programs are an effective companion to treatment.

Community Model of Resocialization for offenders In the community model, an environment is established within a correctional institution that both supports and provides offenders with the experience of living a pro-social lifestyle. It is a strategy to combat the traditional “convict code” and lifestyle found in traditional prison populations.

Prevention Strategies • individualized plan and rehearsal of alternative pro-social responses that are specific to the behaviors or circumstances that increase the risk of re -offending for offender in question; • self-monitoring skills and the ability to anticipate problem situations; and • Training of significant others, to reinforce pro-social behavior and to recognize triggers and risk situations.

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