NCJ Number
61362
Date Published
1978
Length
86 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF AN ADDICTION TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PEACE OFFICERS OF THE NEPEAN TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT OF CANADA ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
A SIX-SESSION ADDICTIONS INFORMATION PROGRAM, SPONSORED BY THE ADDICTION RESEARCH FOUNDATION'S OTTAWA CENTRE, WAS DEVELOPED IN 1977 AFTER A NEED WAS SHOWN BY A SURVEY OF THE NEPEAN FORCE. A QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTERED TO THE OFFICERS WAS DESIGNED TO ELICIT INFORMATION SUCH AS LENGTH OF TIME IN POLICE WORK, PREVIOUS DRUG/ALCOHOL EDUCATION, AND ALCOHOL-AND DRUG-RELATED PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED ON THE JOB. A TOTAL OF SIX REGULAR AND TWO OPTIONAL SESSIONS WERE CONTRACTED FOR; THE FORMAT FOR THE SESSIONS WAS TO FOLLOW A LECTURE DISCUSSION PATTERN. SESSIONS WERE TO RUN FOR 2 TO 2.5 HOURS AND WERE TO BE HELD WEEKLY BY FOR 6 WEEKS. SESSION TOPICS INCLUDED AN INTRODUCTION TO DRUG ABUSE, DRUG IDENTIFICATION, THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF DRUG ABUSE, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. OPTIONAL SESSIONS, IF REQUIRED, WERE TO FOCUS ON SPECIFIC ISSUES SUCH AS IMPAIRED DRIVING OR INTERVENTION IN CASES OF DRUG ABUSE. HOWEVER, OPTIONAL SESSIONS WERE NOT CONDUCTED. PARTICIPANTS SAW THE PROGRAM AS BEING OF VALUE TO THEM, PARTICULARLY THAT MATERIAL MOST CLOSELY RELATED TO THEIR ENFORCEMENT ROLE. BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF ADDICTION PRIOR TO THE SESSIONS WAS MINIMAL. PARTICIPANTS FELT THAT THE LECTURE FORMAT WAS EFFECTIVE AND THAT TEACHING AIDS WERE A DEFINITE LEARNING HELP. THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROGRAM WAS $8,834.88. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROGRAM BE CONTINUED WITH OTHER POLICE FORCES, THAT MANAGEMENT-LEVEL PERSONNEL BE INVOLVED IN ALL STAGES OF PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION, AND THAT THE LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM BE SHORTENED IN ORDER TO REDUCE COSTS AND AVOID REPETITION OF MATERIAL. FOOTNOTES REFERENCES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND EXTENSIVE GRAPHS AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. (LWM)