module 4 - substance abusing offenders Flashcards
what is the oxford dictionary’s definition of a drug?
a substance that impacts the body in a physiological sense once ingested
what percent of Canadians accused of homicide were under the influence of an intoxicating substance at the time of the offence in 2013?
almost 75%
what percentage of physical assaults co-occurred with with drug-related offences? weapon related crimes?
physical assault: 29%
weapon-related crimes: 27%
what does the dopamine theory of reward and addictions state?
drugs stimulate the dopamine neurotransmitter system in the brain, which in turn causes direct pleasurable or euphoric sensations
what does the dopamine theory of reward and addiction underscore about brain function?
underscores how the brain physically changes in response to repeated drug use - namely in the areas of judgement, decision making, learning, memory, and behaviour control
what are some reasons that the dopamine theory of reward and addiction has been criticized?
- not all drugs actually alter the brain’s dopamine neurotransmitter system
- dopamine release leads to increased impulsivity, which in turn leads to addiction, rather than euphoria being the cause of addiction
which genetic traits can predict adolescent drug use? (4)
- alienation
- anger
- interaction anxiety
- lower self-regulation
what does the social learning perspective of drug addiction underscore?
individual choice; addiction is a rational choice in which individuals opt for short-term rewards in exchange for the long-term consequences of drug abuse
what does the self-medication model of drug abuse state?
individuals start using drugs to cope with stress and related negative outcomes associated with trauma and abuse
what types of crime is alcohol use linked to?
interpersonal conflicts such as assault and homicide
what types of crime is illicit drug use linked to?
instrumental violence such as robbery
what are the protective factors of substance abuse?
- higher dopamine receptor availability, which may insulate individuals who are genetically at risk for developing alcoholism
- the presence of self-regulation protects individuals against risky drinking & risky sexual behaviour
what objectives does the assessment process serve? (4)
- provide initial screening to determine if a more comprehensive and more costly assessment is required
- help motivate clients to enter into a treatment program
- describe the nature and extent of the problem to help focus treatment planning
- help evaluate treatment process and change outcomes
what seven components of substance abuse does the CASA measure?
- alcohol
- drug abuse severity
- patterns of use
- links to criminal behaviour
- parental substance abuse severity
- previous participation in programs
- treatment readiness
what are the 2 pieces of legislation governing alcohol and drug related crimes in canada?
the criminal code and the controlled drugs and substances act
what does the controlled drugs and substances act deal with?
deals with crimes related to the possession, production, trafficking, and importation of illicit drugs
what does the criminal code deal with?
deals with crimes related to impaired driving and public intoxication
what are the different types of substance abuse treatments? (5)
- methadone maintenance programs
- therapeutic communities
- counselling boot camps
- cognitive-behavioural models
- motivational interviewing
what are drug treatment courts intended for?
intended to provide an alternative to the traditional justice system
what circumstances must be followed in order for drug treatment courts to be used? (4)
- the accused committed a crime motivated by substance abuse
- the crime was non-violent and not related to drug trafficking
- the accused pleads guilty in a traditional court of law
- the Crown prosecutor supports the alternative drug treatment court
what are the objectives of drug treatment court? (2)
- reduce crime committed as a result of crime dependency through court-monitored treatment snd community service support for offenders
- reduce the cost of substance abuse on the Canadian economy
what do offenders in the drug-court system participate in?
a structured outpatient program where they attend both individual and group counselling sessions, receive appropriate medical attention, and are tested randomly for drugs
what happens when the offender conquers their addiction?
criminal charges are either stayed or the offender receives a non-custodial sentence
what is methadone?
a long lasting, synthetic opioid that is administered orally
how do methadone maintenance programs work? (4)
- by suppressing opioid withdrawal symptoms
- by reducing cravings for opioids
- by preventing the intoxication that typically accompanies opioid use
- by blocking the euphoric or sedative effects of other opioids
what does motivational interviewing emphasize?
clinical empathy and explicit support for client autonomy
what is the counsellor’s job in motivational interviewing?
discuss collaboratively with the client whether change would be worth making, rather than trying to explicitly convince the client that change is desirable
what is the national substance abuse program (NSAP) designed for?
to help offenders alter their substance problems and criminal behaviours
what are the techniques employed by NSAP directed at?
helping offenders better manage the situations that may trigger relapse into crime and/or substance abuse
what are the 4 main types of the NSAP?
- high intensity NSAP (NSAP-H)
- moderate intensity NSAP (NSAP-M)
- pre-release NSAP
- community NSAP
what is NSAP based on?
an integrated theoretical model that posits substance abuse problems occur for many reasons but can be explained by the principles of learning to some degree
substance abuse vs dependence
abuse: high volume/frequency of consumption with associated negative personal, social, occupational, legal or other consequences
dependence: tolerance and withdrawal symptoms and associated lifestyle and behavioural features
