NCJ Number
155046
Journal
American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (1977) Pages: 179-199
Date Published
1977
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This follow-up study of patients admitted to the California Civil Addict Program focused on the program's impact in terms of drug use, criminal behavior, employment, and legal status both during commitment and subsequent to discharge.
Abstract
The analysis also compared patient behavior under the strict, pre-1970 and the more lenient, subsequent commitment regimens. The samples included 289 patients admitted in 1964 and 949 patients admitted in 1970. The results show that the Civil Addict Program reduced daily narcotic use and associated behaviors among the 1964 sample during the period of commitment. Outpatient status and other supervision-with-testing produced favorable results more through moderating than preventing narcotic use. Because of the differential availability of methadone maintenance and other factors, the data do not permit a clear evaluation of the more lenient control policies adopted in 1970. It appears that prior to methadone maintenance, the 1970 sample performed worse than the 1964 sample, but once 20-25 percent of patients were on methadone, their behavior improved significantly. 7 tables and 10 references