NCJ Number
148730
Date Published
1973
Length
120 pages
Annotation
This volume contains two reports which analyze changes over time in the behavior of addicts in a methadone maintenance treatment program operated by the Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation (ARTC) in New York City.
Abstract
The first study examined the criminal behavior of the first 416 addicts admitted to the program before and after their addiction and for 1 year after they enrolled in the ARTC program. The results showed that the clients' crime rate peaked in the year preceding their admission to the program, although they shared a long history of drug and property offenses. After 1 year from date of admission, there was a decline of 21 percent in the overall crime rate of the sample, mainly attributed to a decrease in drug possession and trafficking offenses. The results also showed differences in responsiveness to the treatment program. The second study examined the medication patterns, methadone dosages, and morphine detection among the first 765 patients admitted into the ARTC program and provided preliminary figures on the criminal activities of the clients who stayed in the program for two years. The results showed that over a 2-year period, there was a steady decline in heroin use and a modest decline in criminal activity among this sample. Chapter references