Drug treatment programmes in prison: longitudinal outcome evaluation, policy development and planning interventions

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Prisoner rehabilitation programs are crucial for reducing recidivism.
• Understanding the long-term effectiveness of abstinence-based drug treatment is vital for policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a seven-week abstinence-based drug treatment program for male prisoners.
• To inform policy makers on the planning and provision of future drug treatment programs.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-nine male prisoners were interviewed pre- and post-treatment.
• A subset of 20 prisoners was followed up for up to 24 months.
• The Crime Pics II instrument measured criminogenic attitudes and needs.

Main Results:

• Significant short-term improvements were noted in general attitude to offending, anticipation of re-offending, and perception of life problems.
• No significant changes were observed in victim hurt denial or the evaluation of crime as worthwhile.
• An 82% follow-up rate was achieved for the initial cohort.

Conclusions:

• Short-term gains in treatment outcomes were often not sustained long-term.
• Continuity of care, including case management and structured post-program treatment, appears crucial for sustained recovery.