Search results matching tag 'Substance Abuse'

Patterns of Substance Usage in Youth

CC Pro — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:38:00 GMT

The Office Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has published the bulletin "Co-occurrence of Substance Use Behaviors in Youth." The data were gathered from self-reports regarding the usage of alcohol and/or the usage/sale of illegal substances during the previous 30 days. A central finding indicates that youth engaging in "one substance-related behavior" increases the likelihood they will engage in another.

Substance Abuse Strategies for Youthful Offender Reentry

CC Pro — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:53:00 GMT

According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), approximately 100,000 youthful offenders are released each year from secure facilities into the community. Of those released, 63% commit a new offense within a year. Substance abuse often plays a significant role in the lives of youth that recidivate. A recent edition of the SAMHSA News published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) spotlights various programs across the country that have made a significant impact in reducing recidivism associated with substance abuse. The Young Offender Reentry Program (YORP) employs three (3) basic principles to enhance the chances of youth in making a successful transition back into society:

Start treatment early
Create a seamless continuum of care
Use a holistic approach

The techniques of obtaining housing, employment, education, and other life skills are also emphasized.

In the Mind's Eye

CC Pro — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:05:00 GMT

It's been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but, can a picture prompt a thousand urges? Through the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a team of researchers have found that drug-related images flashed for just 33 milliseconds to cocaine patients activated the limbic system, a brain network associated with reward and emotion. Dr, Nora Volkow, Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) said, "This is the first evidence that cues outside one's awareness can trigger rapid activation of the circuits driving drug-seeking behavior." For additional information on this study and its implications, click here.

Is the Substance Abuse Treatment Programming Provided by Correctional Agencies Effective?

CC Pro — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:50:00 GMT

The first national survey to examine the type and quality of substance abuse treatment programming used by correctional agencies yields some stark findings and recommendations. This survey systematically looked at substance abuse treatment programming provided for adult and juvenile offenders in prisons, jails, probation and parole, and other local community correctional agencies. The primary finding was the most frequently used substance abuse treatment programs are "unlikely to facilitate behavior change." Among the other findings:

Substance abuse treatment services are not readily available to all offenders
Fewer than 10% of adult offenders and approximately 20% of juvenile offenders receive the targeted treatment they require
Staff numbers and training for delivery of treatment services are inadequate
The length of treatment provided is less than recommended by research literature

For the brief on the survey conducted by the National Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJ-DATS), click here.