NCJ Number
158388
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 18 Issue: 4 Dated: (1988) Pages: 505-525
Date Published
1988
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This analysis of compulsory drug treatment concludes that the lack of knowledge about the effectiveness of compulsory treatment raises both ethical and practical questions and that a complete social policy analysis of the use of coercive pressure must be undertaken before acceptance would be appropriate.
Abstract
During the 1980's, social scientists and policymakers have been examining the different kinds of pressures that affect the behavior of drug addicts and have been discussing how to use these pressures so that addicts would obtain treatment, change during treatment, and maintain the changes following treatment. Different pressures are inherent in the legal, social, and treatment systems of the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany. Recent social policy discussions in these countries have focused on the assessment and use of pressures in addiction treatment and developed a consensus that can be framed in six propositions. Their conclusion is that although compulsory treatment is a tempting solution to the drug addiction problem, it must be assessed in terms of the entire range of treatment policy options rather than in terms of moralistic ideas or political expediency. 63 references (Author abstract modified)