NCJ Number
223059
Journal
Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2008 Pages: 201-209
Date Published
April 2008
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined retention and treatment outcome of drug users in a drug intervention program (DIP), and the associations with drug use and criminality.
Abstract
Findings suggest that the typologies that differentiate between primary offenders and primary drug users may also be important in identifying those less receptive to criminal justice drug treatments in England; the DIP process is successfully identifying both groups, but is only managing to retain those who are primary drug users, while primary offenders are not being retained. This may suggest the need for a more sophisticated categorization of drug-using offenders, and a more individualized approach to the delivery of treatment to offenders to ensure that those who are currently slipping through the net are retained. Positive outcomes were achieved in a minority of clients, although retention to around 6 months was achieved in over a quarter of cases. This retention rating was linked to higher intensity of substance use in the period prior to the start of the DIP and lower numbers of previous incarcerations. The cases classified as negative outcomes because of the high dropout rate were typically characterized as less heavy users of crack and heroin, but having greater numbers of previous incarcerations. Heavier drug users, identified at the point of preadmission assessment, were retained in treatment for longer periods than those using heroin and crack less frequently or in lower quantities. A more intensive previous involvement with the criminal justice system was associated with shorter retention in treatment. Tables, references