Impact Evaluation of an Addiction Intervention Program in a Quebec Prison

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Substance use disorders are prevalent in correctional facilities.
• Effective addiction interventions within prisons are crucial for rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.
• Multidimensional assessments are needed to capture the complex needs of incarcerated individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a prison-based addiction intervention program.
• To measure changes in substance use, psychological/emotional, social, and judicial spheres.
• To assess the utilization of post-treatment services.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental repeated measures design was employed.
• Data were collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 6 months.
• An experimental group (n=80) receiving the intervention was compared to a control group (n=70) receiving no intervention.

Main Results:

• Preliminary analyses indicated potential treatment effects on impulsivity and psychological distress.
• However, these promising initial findings were not sustained upon more rigorous statistical examination.

Conclusions:

• Despite initial positive indicators, the prison-based addiction intervention did not demonstrate statistically significant effects compared to the control group.
• Further research with refined methodologies may be needed to identify effective strategies for addiction treatment in correctional settings.