NCJ Number
175625
Journal
Drugs: Education Volume: evention and Policy Issue: Dated: Pages: 2 (July 1998)-184
Date Published
1998
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Due to an increase in the number of prisoners, many European Union (EU) member states have begun to consider the possibility of drug demand reduction interventions within the criminal justice system, and the results of a 6-month study of drug demand reduction activities by EU members are presented.
Abstract
The study used a multi-method approach that included the review of existing material and the collection of original data via questionnaires. The 123 returned questionnaires provided information on demand reduction policies and activities and examples of high quality programs. Findings revealed that the extent of drug demand reduction activities at the arrest stage varied widely between countries. The two most common objectives of interventions aimed at drug-using arrestees were to provide information and to encourage contact with treatment services. The extent of drug demand reduction activities at the court stage was difficult to establish. In many countries, however, legislation existed that extended the possibility of drug treatment as an alternative to a legal sanction. Many interventions focused on drug users in prison, and all countries provided some form of drug demand reduction activity in this context, but many respondents indicated a very low level of drug demand reduction activity targeting released prisoners. Despite the existence of many interventions, no EU member state had an extensive program of drug demand reduction activities at every stage of the criminal justice system. Further, such activities were rarely available throughout all geographic areas of a country. 7 references and 2 tables