Recurring Substance Abuses Violations, Research Paper Example

Offense Overview

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  It is always theoretically easier to stop a problem before it starts.  One such problem is substance abuse and the repercussions of that abuse.  Substance abuse is the use of mind altering substances in other than their intended purposes.  For this research the focus will include drug abuse of alcohol and prescription medications, whether legally prescribed or procured in other methods.  Alcohol and drug abuse in continued over time will lead to hospital visits, incarceration or death.

A couple points of interest, for many law enforcement and prevention entities, are handling the crimes resulting in substance abuse and ultimately preventing the crimes from occurring in the first place.  A study done by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at the Columbia University Studies conducted on noted that addressing the root cause of the misdemeanor or felony violations the overall savings for 150 violators and their propensity for a career as a habitual offender would save $7 million over the course of six years. (NCASA, 2006).  This limits the number of times of a repeat offense and allows the allocation of resources to fund other aspects of law enforcement.  The punishment should fit the crime and with overcrowding of detention facilities substance abuse cases are taking a different punishment course than in previous years.  Probation, community service and rehabilitation sentences are common practice from coast to coast.  The variable to the equation is the type of crime that is committed by the offender.

The purpose of the research on repeat substance abuse offenses is to compare and contrast the theories on how to handle the offenses, the current methods of prevention, assessment, and punishment.  I also want to address how substance abuse exponentially increases the opportunity to commit a crime and the severity of the crime.  All this to answer the question on whether or not repeat substance abuse crimes can be moderated by prevention and treatment programs.

Literature Review

Assessing Montana’s multiple offender drunk drivers for prevention strategy ideas.

This is report by the University of Montana regarding multiple offenders for drunken driving violations.  201 felony offenders were surveyed and 80 participated in focus groups.  The results showed that 12 dominant themes regarding prevention, rehabilitation and prevention surfaced which were: Education; External control mechanisms; Stiffer penalties; Alcohol; ACT; Family and friends; Treatment; Incarceration; Culture of Montana; Accountability; Killing someone; and Transportation in rural areas.  The findings showed that offenders revealed they needed earlier education and harsher initial punishments

Substance abuse treatment and the stages of change, selecting and planning interventions.

Interventions strategies are prominent in substance abuse treatments.  The science for the change model is applied to different ranges of behavioral disorders. Substance abuse is treated as a disorder more so than a personal choice when addressing misuse and abuse of the substances.

Substance abuse, information for school counselors, social workers, therapists, and counselors.

Substance abuse coverage with practical clinical examples to reflect the rapid changes in the field of addiction and the treatment of that addiction are the main topics.  Multiple facets of substance abuse include the pharmacology, assessment and diagnosis, treatment, recovery, prevention, children, families, and other addictions.

Illegal drugs, a complete guide to their history, chemistry, use and abuse.

An idiot’s guide to drugs, historical references, their use and abuse.  The descriptions and methodology reflect on legal drugs and their abuse as well as illegal drugs and their use.  There are multiple vivid descriptions, effects and repercussions of drugs and their abuse.

Treatment approaches for alcohol and drug dependence, an introductory guide.

A step-by-step guide to using specific techniques found to be effective in the treatment of alcohol and other drug abuse. It includes conceptual guidelines on the approaches needed  to fit the client’s needs. Lessons learned from field experience.

Justice research and policy.

This study views the economic benefits of drug treatment as opposed to prison sentences.  The study compared 130 offenders serving prison terms with 150 participants in drug treatment.  This provides approximately $7M savings over a six year period.

Rethinking substance abuse, what the science shows, and what we should do about it.

Using science to facilitate drug rehabilitation this book goes into depths regarding substance abuse treatment, prevention and policy.  It compiles the most up to date scientific knowledge on substance abuse and provides a new understanding of common human issues with addiction.

Criminal conduct and substance abuse treatment for women in correctional settings, female-focused strategies for self-improvement and change : Pathways to responsible living.

This book reflects on the relationship between criminal activities and substance abuse.  The focus is on women who abuse drugs, commit crimes and ultimately volunteer for treatment while in a correctional facility.

Criminal conduct and substance abuse treatment, strategies for self-improvement and change : The provider’s guide.

This book links criminal contact with substance abuse treatment and how it can prevent future negative ramifications.  It states that approximately 50-80% of offenders have a history with alcohol or other drugs.  Some strategies for improvement include Multi-dimensional assessment as a platform for implementing change, cognitive-behavioral therapy, relapse prevention, the stages a person goes through when making changes in their life.

The criminal recidivism process.

The objective of this piece of writing is to illustrate how serious offenders fail to have the coping skills necessary to deal with their environment which leads to other means, such as substance abuse, to cope.  This in turn leads to a greater potential for offending multiple times.

References

Conley, T., Shapiro, S., Spurzem, K., Hardy., (2010). Assessing Montana’s multiple offender drunk drivers for prevention strategy ideas. The University of Montana School of Social Work, (1) 2-20.

Connors, E. J., Donovan, D. M., & DiClemente, C. C. (2004). Substance abuse treatment and the stages of change, selecting and planning interventions. The Guilford Press.

Fisher, A. L., & Harrison, T. C. (2010). Substance abuse, information for school counselors, social workers, therapists, and counselors. Allyn & Bacon.

Gahlinger, A. M. (2004). Illegal drugs, a complete guide to their history, chemistry, use and abuse. Plume Books.

Jarvis, R. J., ebbutt, J., & Mattick, R. P. (2007). Treatment approaches for alcohol and drug dependence, an introductory guide. Wiley.

National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. (2006). Justice research and policy. The University of Columbia, (7,1) 1-25.

Miller, I. R., & Carroll, K. M. (2010). Rethinking substance abuse, what the science shows, and what we should do about it. The Guilford Press.

Milkman, A. B., Wanberg, K. W., & Gagliardi, B. A. (2009). Criminal conduct and substance abuse treatment for women in correctional settings, female-focused strategies for self-improvement and change : Pathways to responsible living . Sage Publications, Inc.

Wanberg, E. W., & Milkman, H. B. (1998). Criminal conduct and substance abuse treatment, strategies for self-improvement and change : The provider’s guide. Sage Publications, Inc.

Zamble, D., & Quinsey, V. L. (2002). The criminal recidivism process. Cambridge Univ Pr.