Drug treatment or alleviating the negative consequences of imprisonment? A critical view of prison-based drug treatment in Denmark

Abstract Background The availability of prison-based drug treatment has increased markedly throughout Europe over the last 15 years in terms of both volume and programme diversity. However, prison drug treatment faces problems and challenges because of the tension between ideologies of rehabilitatio...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The International journal of drug policy 2010-01, Vol.21 (1), p.43-48
Main Authors: Kolind, Torsten, Frank, Vibeke Asmussen, Dahl, Helle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitude of Health Personnel
Counseling - legislation & jurisprudence
Counsellors
Counsellors’ experiences
Criminal justice
Denmark
Drug abuse
Drug and Narcotic Control - legislation & jurisprudence
Drug and Narcotic Control - trends
Drug treatment
Drug use
Humans
Imprisonment
Internal Medicine
Medical Education
Police
Prison
Prisoners
Prisoners - psychology
Prisons
Prisons - legislation & jurisprudence
Prisons - statistics & numerical data
Substance abuse treatment
Substance-Related Disorders - rehabilitation
Treatment
Treatment methods
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Background The availability of prison-based drug treatment has increased markedly throughout Europe over the last 15 years in terms of both volume and programme diversity. However, prison drug treatment faces problems and challenges because of the tension between ideologies of rehabilitation and punishment. Methods This article reports on a study of four cannabis treatment programmes and four psychosocial drug treatment programmes in four Danish prisons during 2007. The data include the transcripts of 22 semi-structured qualitative interviews with counsellors and prison employees, prison statistics, and information about Danish laws and regulations. Results These treatment programmes reflect the ‘treatment guarantee’ in Danish prisons. However, they are simultaneously embedded in a new policy of zero tolerance and intensified disciplinary sanctions. This ambivalence is reflected in the experiences of treatment counsellors: reluctantly, they feel associated with the prison institution in the eyes of the prisoners; they experience severe opposition from prison officers; and the official goals of the programmes, such as making clients drug free and preparing them for a life without crime, are replaced by more pragmatic aims such as alleviating the pain of imprisonment felt by programme clients. Conclusion The article concludes that at a time when prison-based drug treatment is growing, it is crucial that we thoroughly research and critically discuss its content and the restrictions facing such treatment programmes. One way of doing this is through research with counsellors involved in delivering drug treatment services. By so doing, the programmes can become more pragmatic and focused, and alternatives to prison-based drug treatment can be seriously considered.
ISSN:0955-3959
1873-4758
DOI:10.1016/j.drugpo.2009.03.002