Efficacy of Civil Commitment in Treating Narcotic Addiction (From Compulsory Treatment of Drug Abuse: Research and Clinical Practice, P 8-34, 1988, Carl G Leukefeld and Frank M Tims, eds. -- See NCJ-115939)

• NCJ Number: 115940
• Author(s): M D Anglin
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 27 pages
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The California Civil Addict Program (CAP) was evaluated to determine whether compulsory treatment for narcotics addiction is effective.

Abstract

CAP began in 1962, but procedural errors created a natural experiment in which nearly half the individuals admitted were released after minimal exposure to the inpatient component of the program. The study used a time series approach to compare a treatment sample with those who were released. Eleven years of preadmission data and 11 to 13 years of postadmission data were obtained during followup interviews. Findings showed that civil commitment and other legally coercive measures are useful and proven strategies to get people into a treatment program when they will not enter voluntarily. They are effective ways to reduce narcotics addiction and to minimize the adverse social effects associated with it. However, the current shortage of treatment means that further coercion should not be implemented immediately. Funding for new programs or expansion of existing programs and outreach efforts to induce abusers to enter treatment voluntarily and at lower cost than coerced entry are both needed. An effective civil commitment program must include inpatient care as an option and close monitoring with regular urine testing of parolees in the community. Figures, tables, and 12 references.