NCJ Number
63881
Journal
Drug Forum Volume: 7 Issue: NOS 3 AND 4 Dated: (1978/1979) Pages: 209-221
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER PRESENTS THE FINDINGS OF A COMMUNITY PLANNING SURVEY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL REGARDING THEIR VIEWS ON DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE SURVEY WAS PART OF A LARGE PLANNING PROJECT IN PENNSYLVANIA, THE ADDICTIVE DISEASES COMMUNITY PLANNING PROJECT, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO A SERIOUS DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROBLEM. TO ASSESS THE BURDEN OF SUCH ABUSE ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM IN A THREE-COUNTY AREA, THE PLANNING PROJECT ORGANIZED A TASK FORCE WHICH INTERVIEWED A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN EACH COUNTY, INCLUDING POLICE CHIEFS, SERGEANTS, PATROLMEN, AND SPECIALISTS FROM URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL AREAS. A QUESTIONNAIRE AND INDEPTH INTERVIEWS SOLICITED SUBJECTS' VIEWS ON THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF SUCH PROBLEMS, AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE LEGALLY HANDLED. RESULTS INDICATED THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL FELT YOUTH WERE MORE INVOLVED WITH DRUGS AND ADULTS WITH ALCOHOL. DRUGS WERE SEEN AS THE MORE TROUBLESOME PROBLEM SINCE DRUG ADDICTS WERE MORE DIFFICULT TO ARREST AND REQUIRED GREATER PROCEDURAL TIME IN DISPOSITION. A TOTAL OF 87 PERCENT STATED THAT THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM WAS INEFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH ALCOHOL; THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS REGARDED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TREATMENT ONLY IF TREATMENT WAS REFUSED. RESULTS OF THE SURVEY WERE USED IN (1) PLANNING FOR A PUBLIC INEBRIATE GRANT, (2) PROVIDING INPUT INTO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THROUGH TESTIMONY TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND (3) IDENTIFYING TRAINING NEEDS IN DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. THE SURVEY WAS THUS AN INTEGRAL PART OF COMMUNITY PLANNING FOR A SYSTEM OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL CARE. REFERENCES ARE GIVEN. (MJW)