TREATMENT FOR THE ALCOHOL ABUSER - A COMMUNITY CONCERN (FROM SOURCE BOOK - CITIZEN ACTION IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 1978, BY D W DENTON AND J SPITZ - SEE NCJ-56111)

• NCJ Number: 56118
• Author(s): R W FINLEY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Texas at Arlington
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FOCUSING ON THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOL ABUSERS, THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS SEVERAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO TREAT THE ABUSER OUTSIDE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

Abstract

TRADITIONAL HANDLING OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF ALCOHOL ABUSERS BY POLICE, COURTS, AND JAIL SYSTEMS HAS PROVEN INEFFECTIVE AS A DETERRENT OR TREATMENT OF PROBLEM DRINKERS. FURTHERMORE, PRESENT HANDLING OF THE PUBLIC INEBRIATE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO BOTH A TREMENDOUS WASTE OF TAX DOLLARS AND A DEMORALIZING EFFECT ON POLICE, JUDICIAL AND JAIL PERSONNEL. TO COMBAT THIS PROBLEM, THE UNIFORM ALCOHOLISM AND INTOXICATION TREATMENT ACT WAS RECOMMENDED IN 1971 BY THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF COMMISSIONERS ON UNIFORM STATE LAWS AND ADOPTED BY MORE THAN HALF THE STATES AND TERRITORIES. MAJOR PROVISONS OF THE ACT CALL FOR THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS, ESTABLISHMENT OF A STATE ALCOHOLISM AGENCY, ENFORCEMENT OF MINIMUM PROGRAM STANDARDS, ESTABLISHMENT OF STATEWIDE ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT SERVICES, SERVICES AND PROCEDURES FOR IMMEDIATE CARE OF PROBLEM DRINKERS, AND SERVICES FOR LONG-TERM CARE OF SEVERELY IMPAIRED ALCOHOLICS. ALTHOUGH THE MECHANISMS FOR DEALING WITH ALCOHOL ABUSERS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED, INCREASED CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN DEVELOPING NEW PROGRAMS AND EVALUATING EXISTING PROGRAMS IS MORE CRUCIAL TO DETERMINING SUCCESS THAN THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS. HELPFUL HINTS TO GUIDE CITIZEN ACTION INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) FORMULATING PROGRAM OBJECTIVES IN CONJUNCTION WITH COMMUNITY DESIRE AND CAPACITY TO SUPPORT SUCH PROGRAMS, (2) VISITING SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, (3) CLARIFYING PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, (4) INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY'S POWER STRUCTURE IN INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM, AND (5) GAINING THE SUPPORT OF THE HEALTH COMMUNITY. INCLUDED ARE THREE BRIEF CASE HISTORIES OF SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT PROGRAMS: A DETOXIFICATION PROGRAM IN ST. LOUIS, MO., ALCOHOL TREATMENT AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY HONOR COURT IN VIRGINIA; AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA'S DETOXIFICATION PROGRAM. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (WJR)