Substance Abuse Treatment for Criminal Offenders
By David W. Springer, C. Aaron McNeece, and Elizabeth Mayfield Arnold (American Psychological Association, 2003)
Summary:
Authors Springer, McNeece, and Arnold present a very thorough guide on treating substance abuse among criminal offenders. They offer information on the prison population in general and also give some focused attention to the special needs/issues for women, juveniles, and racial/cultural minority groups. Their conclusions and suggestions about working with these groups are grounded in substantial research that they cite.
The book describes the traditional, current, and future situation in this field and explains why criminal charges for drug violations, without substance abuse treatment, are ineffective. The authors explore many treatment options, discussing the positive and negative sides of each. They discuss traditional treatment options--inpatient programs and therapeutic communities—as well as new approaches such as juvenile boot camps, drug courts, and mental health courts.
The book also covers:
· assessment techniques such as interviews, screening tools, etc.;
· the diagnosis of substance abuse problems;
· individual treatment including gender- and culture-sensitive therapy, pharmacotherapy, and case management;
· family-based treatment including parental training and family therapy;
· treatments oriented for group settings such as Aggression Replacement Training and positive peer culture,
· treatment for offenders who have a substance abuse problem and a mental health disorder;
· monitoring offenders after their release from or as an alternative to jail or prison; and
· future research and practice that the authors suggest for the area of substance abuse for criminal offenders.
Why does FASTEN recommend this resource?
This book is a solid resource for professionals in the field. The academic language and wealth of statistical and technical information make it useful as a textbook for professionals in substance abuse treatment, but those outside the field will likely find a simpler text more useful. Reentry programs that employ professionals on staff will find this book a valuable resource.
