INCARCERATION AND SOCIETAL INTEGRATION OF THE SUBSTANCE ABUSING OFFENDER (FROM PROCEEDINGS OF FIRST INTERNATIONAL ACTION CONFERENCE ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE, NOVEMBER 1977, V 3 - INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION)

• NCJ Number: 60030
• Author(s): B JONES; S CARRAWAY; G SPIEKER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Do It Now Foundation
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND INCOMPATIBILITIES BETWEEN IMPRISONMENT AND SUBSEQUENT INTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY ARE DISCUSSED INFORMALLY BY A THREE PERSON PANEL AT A CONFERENCE ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

Abstract

THREE MAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF BOTH CRIMINALITY AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ARE THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION, ANTIESTABLISHMENT ATTITUDES, AND LOW SELF-IMAGE. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A NORMAL PART OF THE LIVES OF MOST SUBSTANCE ABUSERS: ITS FUNCTIONS ARE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC, PUNISHMENT, AND REHABILITATION. HOWEVER, REHABILITATION IN EXISTING PENAL INSTITUTIONS IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR SEVERAL REASONS. FIRST, SIMPLE DAILY DECISIONS SUCH AS WHEN TO GET UP IN THE MORNING, ARE MADE BY THE INSTITUTION, WHEREAS IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD THE INDIVIDUAL MAKES THOSE DECISIONS. IN ADDITION, THE SEPARATION FROM FAMILY LIFE AND FROM JOB AND BUDGET DECISIONS CREATE HABITS WHICH ARE SELF DEFEATING. OFFENDERS SHOULD THEREFORE BE PLACED IN ALTERNATIVE INSTITUTIONS. IN ADDITION, SOME RESEARCH INDICATES THAT ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF INMATES HAVE BEEN USING ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS. OTHER STUDIES HAVE INDICATED THAT SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTIONS OF CRIMES ARE COMMITTED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. PEOPLE UNDER AGE 30 HAVE A HIGHER CONSUMPTION OF ANY KIND OF DRUG THAN DO THOSE OVER 30 YEARS OLD. OTHER RESEARCH AND OPINIONS ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SOCIETAL ATTITUDES TOWARD ABUSERS, AND CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CRIME, ARE DISCUSSED. (CFW)