REENTRY CONCERNS OF INCARCERATED SUBSTANCE ABUSERS

• NCJ Number: 68658
• Journal: American Journal of Alcohol Abuse Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (1979) Pages: 59-71
• Author(s): S M PITTEL; G DAKOF; T L FOSTER; C L HEJINIAN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): DA01901
• Sponsoring Agency: Oregon Mental Health Division
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE REENTRY CONCERNS OF INCARCERATED SUBSTANCE ABUSERS.

Abstract

TO FACILITATE PLANNING A STATE-WIDE REENTRY PROGRAM FOR PAROLEES WITH HISTORIES OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, GROUP INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEMS AND REENTRY SERVICE NEEDS OF 110 MALE AND FEMALE INMATES OF OREGON CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. TOPICS COVERED IN THE INTERVIEWS WERE: PERSONAL BACKGROUND, HISTORY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, AND CRIMINALITY; PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY INMATES AND PAROLEES; AND INMATE ATTITUDES TOWARD PRISON, REHABILITATION; AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS. OF THE INMATES INTERVIEWED, 71 PERCENT HAD HISTORIES OF DRUG ABUSE, AND 29 PERCENT WERE ALCOHOL ABUSERS. FIFTY-EIGHT PERCENT WERE HEROIN ADDICTS. MANY HAD PARTICIPATED IN SOME FORM OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT. INMATES RESPONDED TO THE PRISON EXPERIENCE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR SUCCESSFUL REENTRY WITH CONFUSION, FRUSTRATION, AND ANGER. THEY FELT THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF CLEARLY DEFINED PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PRISON RELEASE LEADING THEM TO RESORT TO DRUGS IMMEDIATELY UPON DISCHARGE IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE PRESSURES OF PRISON LIFE. INMATES ALSO REPORTED A LOW THRESHOLD OF ANGER GENERATED IN PRISON ENVIRONMENT WHICH MADE THEIR REHABILITATION PROBLEMATIC. THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN NONDRUG SITUATIONS AND SAID IT WOULD BE EASIER TO STAY DRUG FREE UPON RELEASE IF THEY COULD AVOID OLD FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. DISSATISFACTION WAS EXPRESSED REGARDING PRISON VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS AND MORE SALIENT VOCATIONAL COUNSELING WAS DESIRED. WELL PAID, MEANINGUL WORK WAS CONSIDERED THE MOST EFFECTIVE DETERRENT FACTOR AGAINST SUBSTANCE ABUSE. EXISTING COMMUNITY-BASED AND INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS WERE VIEWED AS INADEQUATE. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THE NEED FOR FURTHER RESEARCH AND FOR METICULOUS PLANNING FOR THE REENTRY OF SUBSTANCE ABUSERS. REFERENCES ARE CITED.