INTERFACE OF CLINICAL AND CORRECTIONS STAFF IN A MULTI-MODAL DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM (THE MILWAUKEE MODEL) (FROM CRITICAL CONCERNS IN THE FIELD OF DRUG ABUSE PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD DRUG ABUSE CONFERENCE, 1978)

• NCJ Number: 54353
• Author(s): F A APRILL; G J PARKER; J P FLANZER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Marcel Dekker, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD IN NEW YORK (NY), 1976

Annotation

THE OPERATION OF A MEDICAL/MENTAL HEALTH METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM IS DESCRIBED IN ITS INTERFACE WITH CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL.

Abstract

IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE MEDICAL/MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT SYSTEM HAVE DIFFERING PRIMARY GOALS, WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ORIENTED TOWARD SOCIAL CONTROL AND THE TREATMENT COMMUNITY ORIENTED TOWARD MAXIMIZING A PATIENT'S BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING. WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT MANY IN EACH OF THESE FIELDS WOULD PREFER TO KEEP THE TWO SYSTEMS SEPARATE, IT IS BELIEVED THIS CANNOT BE REALISTICALLY DONE IN DEALING WITH PERSONS INVOLVED IN DRUG ABUSE. IT IS NOTED THAT A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF DRUG ABUSERS CONTACT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY THROUGH PROPERTY CRIMES, MANY OF WHICH ARE COMMITTED TO PAY FOR THEIR DRUG HABIT. RECOGNIZING THIS INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIME AND DRUG ABUSE, IT IS NOTED THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS ESTABLISHED DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS WHERE THERE IS EXTENSIVE INVOLVEMENT OF CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL. BELIEVING THIS MODEL TO HAVE EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS ATTENDING IT, A MODEL DEMONSTRATED BY THE DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM OF THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY (WIS.) MENTAL HEALTH CENTER DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM IS DESCRIBED AS AN ALTERNATIVE. THE PROGRAM IS A METHADONE MAINTENANCE OPERATION RUN BY A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY WHICH PROVIDES OFFICE SPACE FOR A PROBATION-PAROLE AGENT WHO WORKS WITH A CASELOAD OF CLIENTS IN TREATMENT WHO ARE UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS. THIS ARRANGEMENT IS SAID TO FACILITIATE CLIENT/AGENT ACCESSIBILITY, CLOSER SUPERVISION OF THE CLIENT, AGENT AWARENESS OF CLIENT PROBLEMS, AND DAY-TO-DAY COOPERATION BETWEEN TREATMENT PERSONNEL AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE HANDLING OF PROBLEMS OF CONFIDENTIALITY RELATIVE TO CLIENT DATA IS DESCRIBED. (RCB)