ROLE OF METHADONE IN THE REDUCTION OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE HEROIN ADDICT - AN EVALUATION STUDY OF THE KEYWAY PROGRAM OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS

• NCJ Number: 51668
• Author(s): F ANTHON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 57 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY - MASTERS THESIS

Annotation

THIS EVALUATION STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF A COMMUNITY METHADONE PROGRAM ON CLIENTS' CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR STUDIED PROGRAM EFFECTS ON 222 PERSONS, WITH AND WITHOUT CRIMINAL RECORDS, WHO PARTICIPATED IN KEYWAY FROM 1971 TO 1977.

Abstract

A HISTORY OF HEROIN ADDICTION AND TREATMENT IS PRESENTED AND 10 STUDIES EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF METHADONE TREATMENT IN REDUCING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ARE REVIEWED. THE KEYWAY PROGRAM OF ROCKFORD, ILL., WAS EVALUATED. THE STUDY SAMPLE WAS DIVIDED INTO 4 GROUPS: (1) CLIENTS WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORDS, (2) CLIENTS WITH MISDEMEANOR CONVICTIONS, (3) CLIENTS WITH FELONY CONVICTIONS, AND (4) CLIENTS WITH MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY CONVICTIONS. TO DISCERN THE PROPORTION OF INDIVIDUALS WHOSE BEHAVIOR CHANGED IN ONE DIRECTION AS OPPOSED TO ANOTHER, THE SIGN TEST WAS EMPLOYED TO DETERMINE PRETREATMENT AND TREATMENT INDICATORS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. RESULTS SHOWED THAT 48 CLIENTS IMPROVED THEIR RECORD DURING AND AFTER TREATMENT, 47 INCREASED CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, AND 79 REMAINED THE SAME. FINDINGS ARE DETAILED FOR THE CLIENT GROUPS AND A DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM RETENTION RATES IS PROVIDED. IT IS CONCLUDED THE KEYWAY TREATMENT DOES NOT AFFECT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. IT IS NOTED THAT THIS EVALUATION STUDY OF KEYWAY'S METHADONE TREATMENT PROGRAM DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE PATTERNS OF PUBLISHED REPORTS ON OTHER METHADONE CENTERS. THE DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT IS APPENDED, AND SUPPORTING DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)