Substance abuse is a grim issue that affects the Canadian inmate population; it can be defined as overindulgence in or dependence on an addictive substance, especially alcohol or drugs. Within Canada, 80% of offenders entering the federal prison system are identified as having a substance abuse problem (MacPherson, 2004); this goes beyond mere indication of tougher drug legislation, it uncovers further discrepancy. Due to the immense majority of offenders affected by this complex mental illness, in addition to varied levels of individual cognitive ability. Consequently conventional abstinence-based treatment methods may not benefit all offenders. Untreated, this dynamic risk factor precursor’s future offending, as a study reveals dependency on illegal drugs is the single most serious risk for repeated offending (MacPherson, 2004). It has been established substance control is a far more feasible short term goal than outright eradication. With this ideology, the premise of one’s analysis will be on substance abuse control methodologies, gauging effectiveness and overall success in achieving its purpose. The harm reduction model the most prevalent ideology within the large spectrum of substance control methods, it is defined by the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction as any program or policy designed to reduce drug-related harm without requiring the cessation of drug use (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2006). In essence instead of adhering to the conventional eradication style practices aforementioned, this style focuses on helping the offender cope with their mental illness. This not only can encourage offenders to take active participation within their treatment, but makes them the directors of their own...
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Correctional Services of Canada. Government of Canada. (2001). Infectious diseases prevention and control in canadian federal penitentiaries 2000-01. Retrieved from website: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pblct/infectiousdiseases/3-eng.shtml
S. S., Owens, D. K., & Brandeau, M. L. (2011). Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Expanding Harm Reduction and Antiretroviral Therapy in a Mixed HIV Epidemic: A Modeling Analysis for Ukraine. Plos Medicine, 8(3), 1-15. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000423
MacCoun, R. J. (1998). Toward a Psychology of Harm Reduction. American Psychologist, 53(11), 1199
Fay, Calvina L. (2008): "Focus on harm prevention and elimination: a plan to introduce a 'safe' injection site in san francisco is tantamount to giving up on addicts." Behavioral Healthcare 28.1 52+. Academic OneFile. Web. 8 Feb. 2012
It has been said that addiction is the plague of the 21st century. In an age of unprecedented life expectancy and medical breakthroughs, people are dying from both disease and overdose that are self inflicted and the cure is currently out of reach. Implementing progressive ideas such as safe injection sites have been a battle, both for caring social workers and front line emergency workers looking to minimize the health risks associated with risk taking behaviors that inevitably occur with intravenous drug use. While the addicted population currently uses considerable government funding by way of shelter services as well as prison and jail time, safe injection sites are a necessary step in the battle against drug abuse as is a major prevention
Many people dislike the term ‘addiction’ in relation to drugs or other substances, particularly as it infers that a person is powerless over their use of a particular drug or in some circumstances, a number of substances. Whilst others maintain it is this powerlessness that is the foundation of diagnosis and treatment – that treatment is not possible without recognition of addiction itself as the ‘problem’ being addressed. The professional and public perception of addiction is complicated. There are many approaches and models to explain addiction, the role of the addict, and their environment. This essay will compare and contrast two of these approaches, the medical/disease and the social model. Initially this essay will describe the origins of each model, and follow by explaining their respective strengths and weaknesses, and finish with an overview of the key differences between them. This essay will conclude by demonstrating that a holistic approach, and a cross-pollination of these models is the most successful approach to treating addicts. As is the case for all diseases, there are multiple treatment options, and as ever person is different, the results in each individual cannot be predicted.
Jones, C. (2009). Ineffective, Unjust and Inhumane: Mandatory Prison Sentences for Drug Offences. The John Howard Society of Canada.
Harm reduction itself is a heavily contested topic, predominantly with regards to its definition, but subsequently with its effectiveness, which is highly dependant on which definition is applied. It is important when discussing definition debates to consider that, as stated by Erickson (1995) "our interpretations of the term tend to change over time and this is a healthy process that is essential in the full articulation of an 'emerging public health perspective'" (Erickson, 1995: 283). There is literature to suggest that the term 'harm reduction' was firstly used only in application to programmes and policies that tried to reduce harm for individuals that continued to use substances, and as such did not include abstinence focused approaches (Single and Rohl, 1997). This deliberate exclusion from definition is beneficial in the sense that it clarifies harm reductions stance in
A Harm Reduction approach to therapy begins with the intent to lessen any high-risk behavior that can be linked back to substance abuse. A treatment plan that focuses on the clients positive behaviors is developed. Hazardous behaviors are addressed through means of educating, and motivating the client. Once a client is properly educated in the positive ways to prevent or lessen harm through substance abuse, they are often motivated to begin to use their treatment as something that focuses on working towards complete recovery from their addiction. Moderation Management and Controlled Use is an approach that is intended to reduce consumption and therefore reduce harm to an individual. The individual is encouraged and taught productive ways to reduce drug intake and gain more control over situations that involve use such as limiting use, attending support groups, forming positive support system within their group of friend or wi...
One specific policy that adheres and follows the harm reduction approach is the Drug Policy Alliance. Their policy is considered to be a harm reduction approach because they acknowledge the fact that “A basic tenet of harm reduction is that there has never been, and will never be, a drug-free society” (Drug Policy Alliance) and have the same aims and objectives as the approach of harm reduction. This policy is more of an intervention than just a basic rehab that only focuses on the use of drug but not the bigger picture – the reason people use the drugs.
MacMaster, S. (2004). Harm reduction: a new perspective on substance abuse services. Social Work, 49(3), 356-63. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2055/docview/215270642/fulltext?accountid=7113
Relapse prevention has been able to become included into the treatment models of how to effectively teach drug offenders skills that can assist them in the development of positive self talk, self reinforcement, cognitive restructuring, and various forms of strategies that would allow those addicted to drugs to remain sober (Laws, 2003). In the future combining relapse prevention with medications such as vivitrol or Naltrexone to treat substance abuse leads to improved outcomes as compared with either relapse prevention or medication assisted treatment alone provides (Larimer et al., 1999). Relapse prevention has been proven to reduce an offender’s propensity to relapse by teaching offenders pro-social skills that will allow them to avoid and escape high risk situations. Most importantly, according to the evidence from the study, we are now able to suggest that the reduction in the drug offender’s odds of recidivism is enhanced when paired with post treatment after care type programs after the offender has completed initial treatment and been released from community supervision (Belenko et al., 2004). Therefore, is becoming obvious that relapse prevention can be considered and effective method of treatment for both the drug dealer and drug user
With such statistical information it is unsurprising that governments have not fully embraced the harm reduction concept, with some countries reverting back to older methods. For instance, Canada is on the verge of closing the dangerous In-site injection facility in Vancouver and reallocating funds to traditional inpatient treatment--real treatment that promotes eventual abstinence. One can conclude that the effectiveness of harm reduction is a very questionable topic as not only does it aid in offender substance abuse, but at what cost. The topic of harm reduction provokes a deeper thought, what happened to prevention methods and what about them is not working?
The complex issues of dealing with offenders in the criminal justice system has been a point of ongoing controversy, particularly in the arena of sentencing. In one camp there are those who believe offenders should be punished to the full extent of the law, while others advocate a more rehabilitative approach. The balancing act of max punishment for crimes committed, and rehabilitating the offender for reintegration into society has produced varying philosophies. With the emanation of drug-induced crimes over the past few decades, the concept of drug treatment courts has emerged. The premise of these courts is to offer a “treatment based alternative to prison,” which consist of intensive treatment services, random drug testing, incentives
The first step in ending the issue of drug use and abuse in our country is to cure the drug users from their addiction in a safe, controlled manner. As confirmed in an article from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive, or uncontrollable, drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences and changes in the brain, which can be long lasting.” (“Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction”) The addiction of drugs is an actual disease, and cannot be brushed off as something that can be stopped at any point in time. Drug addiction is just as serious as any other diagnosed disease and must be cured accordingly. Prison will not benefit those addicted to drugs because it is a disease that must be treated, just as any other illness is. In an attempt to end an addiction without help in a safe environment, dangerous consequences could result.
Alexander explains that in Canada there has been three major waves of drug intervention, the ‘“harm reduction’ techniques” (225) being the most resent consisted of: clean injectable heroin, clean needles, methadone, and housing. Although, each of the methods are devoted and knowledgeable they have done little to decreased the deaths or supress the unhappiness. While clean heroin did work well few addicts quit using and many found the conditions of reserving the drugs to be repulsive. Yet another method is legalization which is nothing new and will do little to help.
Drug violators are a major cause of extreme overcrowding in US prisons. In 1992, 59,000 inmates were added to make a record setting 833,600 inmates nationwide (Rosenthal 1996). A high percentage of these prisoners were serving time because of drug related incid...
“Safe injection sites” are not a valid response to the Opioid Crisis it will defeat the purpose of treatment for people looking to end their addiction. If someone is an opioid drug addict, treatment to end the addiction would not be more appealing than going to an injection site to get high without prosecution. If addiction to opioid drugs is such a hard thing to stop, then it should not be promoted in any way.
In many counties especially the U.S, substance abuse is a major problem that affects the majority of the prison population. The same problem persists when the offenders are released. Chances of re-addiction are high and likely to shoot the rates of recidivism up. This menace often poses oth...