NCJ Number
177030
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Dated: 1999 Pages: 53-62
Date Published
1999
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a program to determine what environmental influences have the greatest impact on resumption of drug use among offenders after release from incarceration.
Abstract
Aftercare services are acknowledged in the criminal justice system as critical to enabling drug offenders to avoid relapse and reincarceration, but the content too often is unsupported through research. One program interviewed 150 inmates after 3 months in the community to determine what environmental influences were having the greatest impact on resumption of drug use. Findings suggest that more emphasis is needed on family relationships before and after release since satisfaction with family life was strongly correlated with drug abuse. Preparation for release should use role playing exercises and other experiential methods to help inmates learn how to respond to family conflict and how to cope with issues that result in loss of family support. Table, references