NCJ Number
82598
Journal
Kriminologisches Journal Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: (1980) Pages: 271-282
Date Published
1980
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A female drug addict from Berlin describes her experiences with drug detoxification therapy in prison, including her resistance to institutionally enforced treatment and her support of inmate-initiated efforts.
Abstract
The addict relates the events leading to the failure of her court-ordered treatment, placing special emphasis on the pressure of such institutional norms as punctuality and time required for detoxification and on her probation officer's doubts about her attempts at staying drug-free and tendency to label her as hopeless. When incarcerated, the woman became part of an inmate-organized self-help group which was allowed to form a living group, hold discussions and craft sessions, redecorate, and take training courses. The success of the group is attributed to the fact that the inmates themselves organized it and voluntarily participated in rigorous group therapy with peers. The self-help treatment was interrupted when the group was integrated into the normal activities of the prison and the woman refused to participate in a prison-prescribed treatment course. It is significant that this particular woman remained drug free after release while other women who had undergone normal institutional therapy had to be returned for renewed detoxification. The speaker herself stresses the need for postrelease programs providing contact among ex-addicts to help prevent their reentry into the drug scene. Notes are supplied.