DIFFICULTIES OF DUAL DENIAL IN THE TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS WITH ALCOHOLISM

• NCJ Number: 68785
• Journal: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: (1979) Pages: 214-220
• Author(s): F L NICHOLS; D HAINES
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE CANADIAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 1978, HALIFAX.

Annotation

AN ORGANIZATION LIKE ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA) MIGHT HELP SEX OFFENDERS BEFORE THEY COMMIT THE CRIME, AS THEY TEND TO DENY THAT THEY ARE SEX OFFENDERS THROUGH SHAME AND ARE OFTEN ALCOHOLICS ALSO.

Abstract

BOTH ALCOHOLICS AND SEX OFFENDERS FREQUENTLY SEEM TO SUFFER FROM A DISORDER OF DENIAL, SUFFERERS DELUDE THEMSELVES INTO BELIEVING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE AFFLICTION. AN INTERRELATED SYNERGISTIC ACTION ALSO SEEMS TO EXIST BETWEEN ALCOHOLISM AND SEXUAL OFFENSES WHICH INCREASES THE PROBLEM. SEX OFFENDERS HAVE A TENDENCY TO DENY ALCOHOLISM UNLESS IT SEEMS USEFUL AS AN EXCUSE TO EXPLAIN AWAY THE SEXUAL OFFENSE. WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE BOTH DISORDERS, THEIR TOTAL INVOLVEMENT IN TREATMENT IS FACILITATED. WHILE ALCOHOLISM AND SEXUAL DEVIATION REINFORCE EACH OTHER IN DESTRUCTIVE ACTING OUT, COMMITMENT AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF BOTH DISORDERS PRODUCES AN EQUALLY SYNERGISTIC CONSTRUCTIVE REINFORCEMENT IN THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY. JUST AS THE ORIGINAL STIGMA ATTACHED TO ALCOHOLISM MADE SECRECY AND ANONYMITY A NECESSARY PART OF AA, SIMILARLY, THE PUBLIC REVULSION, DISGUST, AND DISGRACE ACCOMPANYING SEX OFFENSES IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO OPEN RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT. JUST AS ALCOHOLISM BECAME UNDERSTOOD AS A TREATABLE AND PREVENTABLE DISORDER, WITH THE STIGMA LESSENING, SO MIGHT THE SITUATION FOR SEX OFFENDERS CHANGE. ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF ALCOHOLICS AND SEX OFFENDERS ARE IDENTIFIED AND AN EVEN SMALLER PERCENTAGE RECEIVE TREATMENT. JUST AS THE PRESENCE OF OTHER ACKNOWLEDGED ALCOHOLICS IN AA FACILITATES THE RECOGNITION AND ACCEPTANCE OF ALCHOLISM IN A NEWCOMER, SO CAN THE PRESENCE OF ACKNOWLEDGED SEX OFFENDERS IN A TREATMENT PROGRAM FACILITATE THE OPEN RECOGNITION OF SEXUAL DEVIATION. LIKE THE RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC, THE SEX OFFENDER CAN LEARN THAT HE TOO MUST BE CONSTANTLY AWARE OF HIS PROPENSITIES. SENSITIVITIES, AND TEMPTATIONS, BE ON GUARD, AND TAKE EVERY NECESSARY PRECAUTION TO AVOID REOFFENDING. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)