NCJ Number
149630
Date Published
1992
Length
33 pages
Annotation
Staff of the Research and Statistics Division of the New South Wales (Australia) Department of Corrective Services monitored the New South Wales Prison Methadone Program from mid-1986 until the end of 1991; this paper summarizes the results of the 11 studies conducted during this period.
Abstract
The studies encompassed the initial Pilot Pre-release Methadone Program and the later Prison Methadone Program, which includes the pre-release program as one element. Methadone is a synthetic opioid that is used under medical supervision for treating opiate addicts. Among the goals of the program are the reduction in the incidence of intravenous heroin use by inmates, reduction in the spread of the HIV and Hepatitis B virus, continued methadone maintenance for those receiving it in the community at the time they entered prison, and to break the cycle of criminal activity associated with drug use. The evaluations compared the performance of those on the program with inmates who did not participate. Typically, inmates reported that the methadone program had benefited them. They stopped hustling for, using, and thinking about heroin; felt less aggressive; and were better able to adjust to prison. Of those reincarcerated following release on the program, 87 percent reported that methadone helped them reduce or stop using heroin. On most of the measures of reoffending used, those on the methadone program did not perform significantly better than those in the comparison group. Some of the problems in the program's operation are discussed. 25 references