NCJ Number
42638
Journal
International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 11 Issue: Y Dated: (1976) Pages: 951-966
Date Published
1976
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THIS FOLLOW-UP STUDY DESCRIBES THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF SAMPLES OF 112 DROPOUTS AND 110 ACTIVE PATIENTS FROM ONE OF THE LARGEST METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK CITY.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR STATES THAT THE STUDY IS NOT MEANT TO BE AN EVALUATION OF METHADONE MAINTENANCE IN GENERAL, OR THIS PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR, BUT THE DATA PROVIDE COMPARISONS OF DIFFERENT TREATMENT MODALITIES AND OUTCOMES FOR VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF PERSONS, AND INDICATE HOW THEIR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR WAS AFFECTED OVER TIME. CONSIDERING THE RATES FOR PROPERTY OFFENSES COMMITTED DURING THE YEAR FOLLOWING ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM, THE HIGHEST RATES ARE AMONG THE COURT CASES INCLUDED IN THE SAMPLE OF ACTIVE PATIENTS, FOLLOWED BY THE DROPOUTS WHO WERE IN INSTITUTIONS AT THE TIME OF THE INTERVIEWS, AND THE DROPOUTS WHO WENT TO OTHER METHADONE PROGRAMS. THE DATA SUGGEST THAT METHADONE ALONE, WITHOUT ADEQUATE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, WILL NOT SOLVE THE CRIME PROBLEM AND MAY EVEN EXACERBATE IT, AT LEAST FOR SOME GROUPS OF ADDICTS. THE NEED TO MONITOR, ALTER, AND IMPROVE TREATMENT PROGRAMS IS EMPHASIZED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...KAP