DRUG USER TREATMENT WITHIN A CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONTEXT

Abstract

This paper summarizes what is known, and what is uncertain, about strategies what exploit the coercive potential of the criminal justice system to get problem drug users to get treatment for their dependency. It considers the links between problem drug use and crime, the characteristics of effective treatment for problem drug users, the effectiveness of coerced treatment, and the practical obstacles in bridging the gap between criminal justice and treatment services. It draws on experience in Britain, though it is also informed by the English-language research literature, especially that carried out in the United States.

• Illicit drug use
• Drug-related crime
• Treatment
• Coerced treatment
• Problem drug users
• Problem drug use

RESUMEN

Este estudio resume lo que se conoce, y lo que es menos conocido, acerca de las estrategias que utilizan el potencial coactivo del sistema jurídico para hacer que drogodependientes problemáticos se sometan a tratamiento para salir de su drogodependencia. Considera la relación entre drogodependencia problemática y delincuencia, las características de un tratamiento efectivo para drogodependientes problemáticos, la eficacia de tratamientos coactivos y los obstáculos prácticos para establecer un vínculo entre el sistema jurídico y los servicios de rehabilitación. Este estudio se basa fundamentalmente en experiencias en el Reino Unido, aunque también incorpora otras fuentes anglófonas, especialmente investigaciones llevadas a cabo en Estados Unidos.

RéSUMé

Ce papier consiste à un sommaire de ce qui est connu et ce qui reste à connaître à propos des opportunités pourvus par la justice pour assurer que les individus qui abusent la drogue obtiennent les services de traitement dont ils (ou elles) ont besoin. Il considère quatre questions: quels sont les liens entre l'abus des drogues et le crime qui tendent à mener ceux qui les abusent en contact avec la justice? quels sont les caractéristiques de traitement efficacies pour ces individus? Est-ce que le traitement imposé peut être efficace? Quels sont les obstacles pratiques à mieux relier la justice et les services de traitement? Le papier s'appuie sur l'expérience Brittanique mais se renseigne aussi par rapport aux recherches dans les pays anglophones, surtout celles meneés aux Etats-Unis.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mike Hough

Mike Hough is Professor of Social Policy and Director of South Bank University's Criminal Policy Research Unit (CPRU), which he set up in 1994. The CPRU is a highly productive provider of policy research for central and local government. It has a staff of around 20 researchers. Much of the unit's research program focuses on drug issues; recent work includes a study of street drug markets in London, research examining the links between drug markets and sex markets, and evaluations of various arrest referral schemes. He was previously Deputy Head of the Home Office Research and Planning Unit. He has written extensively about crime and criminal policy. His expertise lies in quantitative policy research, and he has been closely involved with the British Crime Survey since it started in 1980.