NCJ Number
177140
Date Published
1998
Length
33 pages
Annotation
Drug treatment and drug prevention programs are examined with respect to their role in the control of drug abuse.
Abstract
Addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder; addicts generally avoid treatment. Most treatment and rehabilitation programs aim to control or eliminate drug abuse, to give drug users alternatives to their drug-using lifestyle, and to treat physical and psychological medical complications associated with drug use. Treatment programs are varied in nature due to the varied personality types of drug-dependent persons and the varied drugs of abuse. Options include detoxification, chemical dependency units, outpatient clinics, methadone maintenance programs, and residential therapeutic communities. Social reintegration is an important step after treatment in making the person a productive member of the community. The halfway house is often used for this purpose; it allows members to assume some responsibility in maintaining the house's operation. Drug prevention is another essential component of efforts to address drug abuse. The two ways most likely to achieve the drug prevention goal are to make potential first-time users not want to use drugs and to impose severe criminal penalties to deter first-time drug use. Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) and School Program to Educate and Control Drug Abuse (SPECDA) are prevention programs focused on teaching children the basics of individual thinking, decision-making, and personal choice when faced with the prospect of using illicit drugs. Photograph, list of major terms used, and discussion questions