CONFLICT BETWEEN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ADDICTION REHABILITATION IN A SPECIFIC URBAN SETTING NEW ORLEANS (LA) - (FROM CRITICAL CONCERNS IN THE FIELD OF DRUG ABUSE - PROCEEDINGS OF THE DRUG ABUSE... 1978)

• NCJ Number: 54354
• Author(s): E D FRANK; A L JUNIEL; V J SHORTY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: Marcel Dekker, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: THIRD NATIONAL CONFERENCE, HELD IN NEW YORK (NY), 1976

Annotation

WAYS IN WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT, CORRECTIONS, AND THE COURTS OBSTRUCT THE TREATMENT OF ADDICTION AS AN ILLNESS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IT IS NOTED THAT DRUG ADDICTION IS AN ILLNESS THAT IS NORMALLY HEALED THROUGH CERTAIN TREATMENT PROCEDURES; HOWEVER, LAWS PROSCRIBING THE USE OF SUBSTANCES THAT PRODUCE ADDICTION, TOGETHER WITH THEIR ADMINISTRATION, ARE BELIEVED TO CAUSE FREQUENT OBSTRUCTION OF TREATMENT PROCEDURES. THE ARREST OF CLIENTS IN TREATMENT FOR POSSESSION AND USE OF DRUGS PRIOR TO ENTERING TREATMENT IS CITED AS A PRACTICE THAT NOT ONLY DISRUPTS THE TREATMENT PROCESS BUT INTRODUCES EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE CLIENT WHICH IS LIKELY TO STIMULATE RETURN TO DRUG USE. THE USE OF INCARCERATION WITHOUT TREATMENT OF THE ADDICT AGGRAVATES HIS ADDICTION BY PLACING HIM IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF DEPRIVATION WHERE HIS ALREADY WEAK COPING MECHANISMS ARE ASSAULTED EVEN FURTHER, THUS TENDING TO INCREASE HIS PERCEIVED NEED FOR DRUGS TO COPE WITH HIS CIRCUMSTANCES. ADDITIONALLY, PRISON TENDS TO DRAW DRUG OFFENDERS FURTHER INTO A SUBCULTURE WHERE DRUG USE IS PREVALENT. METHODS FOR SUPPORTING A DRUG HABIT ARE ALSO LEARNED IN PRISON. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT LAWS BE REFORMED OR AT THE VERY LEAST ADMINISTERED FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THAT ADDICTION IS A SICKNESS. AS A MEANS OF IMPLEMENTING THIS RECOMMENDATION, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDICAL TREATMENT COMMUNITY SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN DELIBERATIONS ON DRUG-RELATED LEGISLATION AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH LEGISLATION. (RCB)