Examined the impact of coercion in rehabilitation of drug abusers. A validated interview schedule was utilized for both coerced and non-coerced participants. Data analysis found that coercion facilitates success for certain groups (e.g., older, longer term heroin addicts), and certain criteria (e.g., arrest and abstinence). (Author/JAC)

Describes the impact of the Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) program, designed to identify criminal offenders with drug problems and refer them for treatment. Despite an increase in size and changes in client characteristics, the influx of TASC-referred drug abusers did not decrease program effectiveness. (JAC)

Evaluated the effectiveness of three 16-hour-long unstructured marathon groups composed of female illicit drug users in a woman's prison (N=78), using evaluative adjective pairs of the semantic differential concept Women. Marathon groups rated women as more successful and more pleasurable than did controls. (JAC)

Examined the potential of substance abuse education as a component of an aftercare program. Former abusers in a university substance abuse education course were compared to college students. The former abusers/offenders increased their knowledge significantly, became significantly less accepting, and showed non-significant reductions in drug use.…

Compared the effects of extensive group therapy (treatment for drug abusers) on the attitudes of 67 incarcerated young men. Results indicated no significant differences in attitude between the treatment and no-treatment groups, suggesting that group therapy treatment had no rehabilitative advantage over vocational training. (JAC)

Discusses trend towards involving criminal offenders in substance abuse programs and utilizing outpatient settings in treatment. Appraises the treatment performance of both court-referred and voluntary clients and the impacts criminal-justice-referred clients may have upon other persons in treatment programs to which they are admitted. Discusses…

Discusses problem of how to address relationship between alcohol abuse and criminal offending. Suggests that Alcohol Education Courses (AECs) offer workable alternative to custodial sentencing. AECs offer various techniques that target abusive alcohol consumption level of the population, the problem of offending, or both. Asserts that evaluation…