Calibrating and Measuring Theoretical Integration in Drug Treatment Programs

• NCJ Number: 195952
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 30 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2002 Pages: 159-173
• Author(s): Faye S. Taxman; Sally S. Simpson; Nicole Leeper Piquero
• Date Published: May 2002
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01DA10705
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; Office of National Drug Control Policy
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research Paper
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses calibrating and measuring theoretical integration in drug treatment programs.

Abstract

A survey of 149 staff working in correctional programs using a cognitive behavioral approach sought to determine: (1) whether theoretical frameworks informed staff beliefs about the causes of drug use and criminal behavior; (2) if intervention strategies were guided by theory; and (3) the degree of theoretical consistency between beliefs about causation and intervention. This study presents a new approach for examining treatment integrity in correctional programs for substance abusers by examining the concept of theoretical integration. Putting such programs in place requires providing professional standards; ensuring that professional staff beliefs conform to the goals and objectives of the treatment programs; and developing interventions based on causation theories. Treatment programs whose services are atheoretical and/or theoretically inconsistent are less apt to be successful than those that integrate into the intervention services specific theories of criminal and substance abuse behavior. Tables, notes, references