Treatment Programs for Prison Inmates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Treatment Programs for Prison Inmates - Essay ExampleThe need for adequate treatment measures has been established. Finally various treatment measures that can be incorporated by authorities to ensure rehabilitation of inmates with addiction have been identified and evaluated.The diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-1V) refers to brain altering substances as substances and to the related disorders as substance-related disorders(1994, p174). The DSM - IV indicates that the term substance refers to a drug of abuse, a medication, or a toxin. The word substance is generally preferable to the word drug because the term drug refers to manufactured chemicals while many of the substances associated with abuse patterns occur of course (opium) or are not meant for human consumption (phenyl). Here it is vital to differentiate in the midst of substance abuse and substance dependence.Substance dependence This is broadly speaking termed as addiction to alcoholic beverag e as well as other addictive substances (such as opium, marijuana, cocaine etc). It is a reversible body politic and the person starts proneness the substance under stress, life changes, or a low/depressed mood.Substance abuse On the other hand, substance abuse is much much serious, wherein the individual becomes tolerant of the substance and needs an increasing amount to reach an inebriated state. An abuser will also face withdrawal symptoms in which state it becomes close to impossible to function normally in the absence of the substance.The life span of the typical addict is about 12 years shorter than the average citizen, and alcohol now ranks as the third major cause of death in the United States (Kaplan and Saddock, 1989, p. 391).ObjectivesThis research has a two pronged objectiveTo landing field the touch base between criminal activity and substance abuseTo examine the various treatment programs available for prison inmates with a history of alcohol and drug abuseIncreas ing execration rates, overpopulated prisons, and few measures taken towards the prevention of crime are major concerns over the world, particularly in countries such as the USA where the crime rate is significantly high. A large number of prison inmates are for the most part substance abusers and there is a close link between substance abuse and crime. In many instances, substance abuse can also be seen as the catalyst that triggers criminal activity. Keeping this in mind, haughty substance abuse in this group in an attempt to decrease crime rates would eventually bring about a significant affable change.Identifying and implementing effective treatment programs for prison inmates is therefore a necessary and important step in the overall prevention of crime.Research designThis is an exploratory study using an Ex-Post Facto Design.Literature ReviewSarah Liriano and Malcolm Ramsay in 2000 attempted to measure prisoners drug use prior to their prison term as a possible bench mark ag ainst which effectiveness of the Prison Service drugs strategy could be monitored. The data from the Criminality Survey showed that (73%) of respondents had used an illegal drug in the twelve months before