NCJ Number
184507
Date Published
2000
Length
31 pages
Annotation
Baseline and prospective during-treatment data were collected from a serial cohort of 429 felony probationers remanded to a 6-month modified therapeutic community in Texas in 1998 to assess the impact of drug treatment.
Abstract
Results demonstrated drug abuse was only one of many problems presented at treatment entry. Most probationers were clinically dependent on alcohol (56 percent) or cocaine (70 percent), were chronically unemployed (50 percent), and had a history of psychiatric problems. These problems included serious depression (47 percent), anxiety (42 percent), trouble controlling violent thoughts (26 percent), and suicide ideation (20 percent) or attempts (16 percent). Drug abuse treatment had a measurable impact on the psychosocial functioning of the probationers. Notable examples of significant improvements in measures of psychological well-being included increasingly positive feelings of self-esteem and self-confidence and reduced symptoms of depression. Of the 429 probationers, 69 percent remained in the therapeutic community the entire 6 months and successfully graduated. Dropping out of the program early was related to higher levels of pre-treatment deficits, such as unemployment, mental health issues, hostility, and more extensive criminal histories. Implications of the findings for correctional substance abuse programs are discussed. 81 references, 3 tables, and 1 figure