POST TREATMENT OCCUPATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR THE FORMER DRUG ABUSER IN NEW YORK CITY - A MODEL FOR AN OCCUPATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION REFERRAL SERVICE AND AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE

• NCJ Number: 58557
• Author(s): S J LEVY; C EUKER
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 87 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1 R25 MH 20901-01 MHSR
• Sponsoring Agency: New York State; US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: Training for Living Institution
• Sale Source: Eric Document Reproduction Service
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TWO MODELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY FOR FORMER DRUG ABUSERS IN NEW YORK CITY ARE DESCRIBED, ONE FOR AN OCCUPATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION REFERRAL SERVICE AND THE OTHER FOR AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE.

Abstract

AS OF SEPTEMBER 1972, APPROXIMATELY 50,000 DRUG ADDICTS WERE BEING TREATED IN NEW YORK CITY. ESTIMATES OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS IN THE CITY RANGE FROM 150,000 TO 300,000. THERE IS LITTLE COORDINATION AMONG VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE TREATMENT AGENCIES, AND THEY ALL COMPETE FOR THE SAME FUNDS. MOST DRUG ADDICTS AND EX-ADDICTS COME FROM MINORITY GROUPS, WITH LOW ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, WITH MINIMAL JOB SKILLS, AND OFTEN WITH A CRIMINAL HISTORY. DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAMS REPORT SOME SUCCESS IN CARRYING OUT STATED GOALS OF REHABILITATION WITH CERTAIN CLIENTS. CRITERIA FOR DEFINING SUCCESS DIFFER, HOWEVER, AMONG PROGRAMS. DUE TO THIS SUBSTANTIAL VARIATION, TWO ISSUES ARE RAISED: (1) WHETHER TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE ADEQUATELY PREPARING CLIENTS FOR THE WORK SETTING AND FOR ACADEMIC ENDEAVORS, AND (2) WHETHER SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES IN THE CITY ARE READY TO RECEIVE EX-ADDICTS. ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR CONSIDERATION IS THE FACT THAT OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS STAND BETWEEN DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYMENT. THE TWO MODELS, ONE FOR AN OCCUPATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION REFERRAL SERVICE FOR TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND THE OTHER FOR AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN INTERFACE AMONG EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND TREATMENT FOR EX-ADDICTS. THE DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR THE TWO MODELS WOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT AGENCY DESIGNED TO SERVE AS AN INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. RELEVANT DATA WOULD BE HANDLED BY A COMPUTER SYSTEM. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE TWO MODELS ARE OFFERED, AND AN ESTIMATED BUDGET IS OUTLINED. A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF EACH MODEL IS PRESENTED, ALONG WITH HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON THE NEED FOR AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO SERVICE DELIVERY FOR EX-ADDICTS. REFERENCES ARE CITED. AN APPENDIX CONTAINS AN ACADEMIC ADMISSIONS POLICY QUESTIONNAIRE. (DEP)