Drug Intervention Annoted Bibliography Anglin,

Drug Intervention

Annoted Bibliography

Anglin, M.D., Farabee, D., Huang, D., Yih-ing, H. (2004). "Recidivism among an early cohort of California's propostion 36 offenders." Criminology & Public Policy, 3(3), 563-584. California societal voters approved the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act (SACPA) in November 2000. SACPA or "Proposition 36" (as it is often referred to), gives adults drug abusers who have been convicted of non-violent drug possession the opportunity to choose treatment over incarceration. This study was a follow-up to the program and concluded that crime had been reduced marginally since the SACPA was put into effect. However, SACPA clients remained more likely to be rearrested for a drug crime even after controlling for the interaction between drug use severity and treatment modality.

Cartwright, W.S. (2000). "Cost-benefit analysis of drug treatment services: review of the literature." The Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, 3(1) 11-26. The question this study sought to find out about was the value of the economical expense involved in the treatment of drug abusers. The report demonstrates scientific merit with its study of expense vs. benefits. Studies researched included articles obtained from scientific literature as well as eight government reports. Four categories of expense vs. benefits were researched. The benefits were found to exceed costs in eighteen studies. This was also true in studies that had not included all the benefits. The studies accentuated the economical savings in discussions of the effectiveness of addiction treatment, the benefits from the treatment and the expense of the treatment. It was found overall that treating drug abusers contributed positively to economic returns.

Cuellar, a.E., McReynolds, L.S., Wasserman, G.A. (2006). "Analysis and Management."

Journal of Policy 25(1), 197-214. The increase of mental disordered youth offenders has become a serious social problem. The researchers in this study discuss a new policy that has been instated which allows youth offenders to seek treatment instead of being prosecuted, fined and/or incarcerated. Public opinion at this time reflects a belief that there is a correlation between mental disorders and crime. The increase of treatment diversion programs may be aligned with this belief. The implementation and effect of a diversion program in Texas was evaluated. The findings of this important study was that treating youths was very effective in impeding or preventing offenders from committing crimes completely.

Day, a., Howells, K., Heseltine, K., Casey, S. (2003). "Alcohol use and negative affect in the offense cycle." Criminal Behavior and Mental Health, 13(1) 45-58. Alcohol use has been thought to be strongly associated with criminal behavior, though this correlation and the foundation of it, has not been thoroughly researched to gain a better understanding. This study attempts to review the current studies concerning alcohol and criminal behavior. It draws some conclusions concerning the role of the addiction in offender rehabilitation. The report proposes that there are negative states of inebriation that are important to understand in order to properly conceive the offense cycle and treat abusers.

Fergusson, D.M., Horwood, L.J., & Swain-Campbell, N. (2002). "Cannabis use and psychosocial adjustment in adolescence and young adulthood." Addiction, 97(9), 1123-1135. This study was used to examine the associations between frequency of cannabis use and psychosocial outcomes in adolescence/young adulthood. The study was longitudinal (over time) and lasted for 21 years. The subjects included 1,265 New Zealand children. Annual assessments of the frequency of cannabis use were obtained for the period from age 14-21 years, together with measures of psychosocial outcomes including property/violent crime, depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and other illicit drug use. Scientists found that for measures such as crime, regular or heavy use of cannabis was associated with crime especially when the subjects were school aged.

French, M.T. (1995). "Economic evaluation of drug abuse treatment programs:

Methodology and findings." American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 21(1), 111-35. A research team led by Dr. Michael French gathered to estimate the costs and benefits of residential and publically funded treatment programs for addiction issues. The team was derived from the University of Miami. Program and the client related economic cost estimates were obtained using data collected at the site with the drug abuse treatment cost analysis program (DATCAP). It was concluded that the economic benefit to society was almost four times what the cost of treating residential clients. Short-term follow-up treatment was also beneficial and the economic benefit was even higher.

Hanlon, T.E., Kinlock, T.W., Nurco, D.N. (1991). "Recent research on the relationship between illicit use and crime." Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 9(3), 221-242.

The study reviews previous research on the correlation of drug use and criminal behavior resulting in arrest since 1980. Advances were noted in crime studies that included known drug abusers. This was also the case in studies of the drug use of those processed by the criminal justice system. Mostly the studies concluded that the criminal activity of narcotic abusers was higher and there was also a higher rate of crime associated with frequent use of cocaine or heroine. The addicts studied varied in the severity and type of criminal activity they were involved with. The effects of treatment and criminal justice interventions as well as other drug-related violence were included.

Lennings, C.J., Copeland, J., Howard J. (2003). "Substance use patterns of young offenders and violent crime." Aggressive Behavior. 29(5), 414-422. This study's hypothesis was that alcohol use is a significant predictor of violent crime in committed by the youth. Researchers studied 300 juveniles that had been incarcerated in the prison system of New South Wales. Of the 300, more than 70% admitted to having committed violent crimes. Most correlated with the onset of violent crimes was alcohol use followed by cocaine use. The findings accounted for the correlation that exists between the use of substabce and aggressive, violent crime and so, further supported the "Goldstein hypothesis" which believes that substance abuse facilitates violent behavior directly.