Drug and alcohol offenders coerced into treatment: a review of modalities and suggestions for research on social model programs

Abstract

Outcome studies on drug and alcohol offenders coerced into treatment by the criminal justice system were reviewed. Positive outcomes were found for therapeutic community, methadone maintenance, and unspecified residential and outpatient programs. No outcome studies were found for court-mandated clients coerced into social model recovery programs. When developing studies, researchers should consider how clients perceive legal mandates and whether they are receiving pressures to enter treatment from other sources, such as family members, employers, friends or the welfare system. Use of the Social Model Philosophy Scale (SMPS) is suggested to correlate program characteristics and processes with outcome.