National TASC

National TASC Engagement and Retention Seminar Available

National TASC has written a curriculum for DrugCourtTeamBuilding that is now available as a two day training course. The training developed by a team of capable researchers and trainers has been piloted in North Carolina under the leadership of Bobbie Heron Boyer.  Recently a brief overview of the seminar was presented as a workshop to a standing room only crowd at the annual National Association of Drug Court Professionals Conference. For more information about the availability of training, please contact the National TASC office at 703-836-8272.

 

 

Review of CJDATS Brief Report: Findings from the National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices Survey (NCJTPS)

National TASC conference will feature an evidence based track that will include a review of CJDATS findings to date.  A recent brief report summarizes the first set of findings from the NCJTPS, which is available in a special section of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment (April, 2007).   The study focused on the “multiple systemic, organizational, and infrastructural barriers affecting the provision of evidenced based treatment as described in  NIDA’s 2006 Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations: A Research Based Guide.”    TASC professionals will be interested in overall study findings suggesting that treatment services are not widely available for offenders in all phases (prisons, jails and community corrections programs) and that services that are available are unlikely to change behavior.  Contributing components include: little standardization in assessment tools, high offender to drug treatment staff ratios, insufficient staff training, overemphasis on educationally oriented treatments and a lack of clinical methods, and programs that are shorter than the recommended 90 days.

The report makes a distinction between the prevalence of drug treatment programs available and access to programs by the offender.  Although almost 65% of correctional programs have substance abuse treatment programs, for various reasons these programs are accessed by only 10% of those in need of treatment.  An estimated 5.6 of the 7.8 million offenders under correctional control need some form of comprehensive treatment.  Survey results estimate that treatment is provided to about 7.7% of the population in need, or 430,000 of the 5.6 million.

In the adult prison and community corrections programs, and the juvenile residential facilities and community corrections programs, on average it was reported that less that 60% of Evidence Based Practices (EBPs) recommended by NIDA are used.  The ones that are most frequently used include standardized substance abuse measures, engagement techniques, treatment addressing co-occurring disorders, involving family in treatment, use of qualified staff, and periodic assessments of treatment outcomes.  Consensus driven EBPs not included are standardized risk assessment, treatment orientation, comprehensive treatment, treatment greater than 90 days, systems integration, continuing care, drug testing, assessment of treatment outcomes, role play in sessions, and small group treatment size.

The brief report offers statistics for both adult and juvenile offenders.  These statistics cover four major subject areas:

•    substance abuse screening, standardized measures, and referrals
•   staffing in correctional facilities
•   correctional programs and substance abuse services
•   reentry practices

One important distinction noted in reentry practices is the difference between passive and active referral strategies. “Practices aimed at aiding the transition from institution to community vary considerably and may involve and emphasis on passive referral (i.e. the provision of contact information and encouragement for the offender to make contact), or active referral (i.e. action by the referring agency to contact the community-based provider and make arrangements with and for the offender).”  Whereas referrals are common — 38% adult prisons, 36% of adult jails and 60% of communities corrections agencies refer offenders to substance abuse treatment — in the communities corrections agencies only 34% of the referrals are active.

The brief report concludes by looking at characteristics of organizations that succeed in adopting and implementing innovations.  Notable characteristics were:

• an experienced administrator,
• providing training and professional development to staff, 
• having greater financial resources and more employees,
• being less integrated with the judiciary.

This particular study was considered the particular innovation of HIV testing  and the most significant factor was number of full-time employees.

 

Meth’s Myths Laid to Rest, and the Fight Continues

“You have to be pretty brave on some level to go to war with meth” – Lori Seibel, Community Heath Endowment

A track covering methamphetamine issues is attracting considerable interest in the NTASC conference.  Meth use is on the rise in many areas of the country especially among kids over twelve, women, and gay/bisexual men. It delivers a long high response in the user and can increase dopamine activity. In the long run meth can disable many of the pleasure receptors in the brain causing people to take more of the drug just to feel “normal”. It produces health hazards to the user and to those exposed to toxic chemicals used in its production. The conference will highlight educational tools to reach users who don’t know how dangerous, potent, or addictive it is. The conference will highlight protecting children and families exposed to meth in the home as well as a range of effective interventions and treatment for meth addiction.

Recent press articles have focused on some techniques for meth prevention. For example, the Montana Meth Project primarily focuses on education because according to Peg Shea, “if you can help prevent first-time use, it will reduce treatment demand and help law enforcement”.  To help this effort, the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation donated $12 million to the project and Mr. Siebel also gave another $5 million.  Many other foundations including the Alcoa Foundation, the HCA Foundation, etc. have given grants to combat methamphetamine, so TASC agencies and their colleagues can look to foundations for help with funding.  

The Chronicle of Philanthropy has noted increase awareness of foundations to the need for meth funding. Until recently, many foundations have awarded money to substance abuse prevention programs, but meth prevention and treatment has not been high on the lists of organizations.  Communities across the country are pushing for more help and funding so that they can curb the problem before it becomes even more prevalent in the country.  Despite the need for action, it is highly possible that cutbacks are in the future.  The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is phasing out grants for preventing addiction but other local foundations are alert to the meth problem so TASC agencies may wish to look at local funding options. 

One of the main goals of the Meth NTASC conference track is to provide information on preventing, assessing and screening for Meth abuse throughout the country.  NTASC will highlight a wide variety of tactics from the proven to the promising innovations at the conference in order to help prevention methods spread throughout the country.

*See the Chronicle of Philanthropy May 17, 2007. Articles by Marty Michaels: “Combating a Menacing Drug”; “Drug Prevention Groups Warn of Meth’s Spread Across America”; “Technology Mogul’s $17 – Million Gift to fight Meth Attracts Controversy”; “In Minnesota and Hawaii, Community Funds Take Steps to Curb Meth Use”

 *More Information can be found at http://www.philanthropy.com/summary/v19/i15.htm

 

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS:

Macarthur Action Network to Address Mental Health in Juvenile Justice

TASC agencies who are involved in statewide juvenile justice efforts may wish to get involved with new initiatives from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. A solicitation will provide $100 million to juvenile justice reform that involves screening and assessment as a component of the model. MacArthur will create two national "Action Networks." The first will focus on systematic mental health strategies for the nation’s juvenile justice system. This will target an estimated 70 percent of youth in contact with the juvenile justice system who have a mental health disorder. Approximately 25 percent experience serious mental health problems. It will address the significant proportion of youth with substance abuse problems.

An open application process will help select sites and link them to leading national experts in the field. The juvenile TASC model may be appropriate as standardized screening and assessment is an issue.

A second Action Network will focus on Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC). The Center for Children’s Law and Policy in Washington, DC will administer it. Once sites are selected, participating sites will identify and implement innovative solutions to persistent problems across the country and exchange information and ideas with other jurisdictions addressing these issues.” More information can be found at:

http://www.ncmhjj.com/action/default.asp

 

Crack Sentencing Revisited

Senator Biden has proposed the S. 1711 Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Trafficking Act of 2007 to amend the crack cocaine sentencing disparity problem.  The proposed law would increase the threshold quantities of crack that would be needed to trigger the 5 and 10 year sentences.  It would also repeal the mandatory minimum penalty for simply possessing crack (crack is the only drug in which one has a mandatory sentence for a first time offense).  Of particular interest to NTASC and other non-profit organizations, the bill he is proposing will also authorize money for prison and jail based drug treatment programs.

Crack cocaine and powder cocaine, since the 1980s, have been measured differently in the eyes of the courts.  It takes 100x more powder cocaine than crack cocaine to trigger the same 5 and 10 years minimum sentences.  This disparity in the law was due to current research at the time.  Senator Biden is now petitioning to have this law changed based on a review of the facts they used to pass the initial law.  For example he argues that there is no evidence that in fact crack has any unique properties that make it more additive than powder.  Both crack and powder have the same physiological effects on the body.  A review of sentencing data shows that the crack penalty laws disproportionably affect Latinos and African Americans.

 

Senate and House Appropriations

On July 5^th, The Senate Appropriations Committee marked-up its FY08 CJS Appropriations bill.  The following are highlights from the bill:

JAG	$660 million
Byrne Discretionary	$190 million
Cops (Total)	$550 million
COPS Meth/Hot Spots	$80 million
COPS Law Enforcement Technology	$110 million
COPS DNA Backlog	$169 million
COPS Offender Reentry	$10 million
COPS Adam Walsh Grants	$55 million
State Criminal Alien Assistance Program	$400 million
State Prison Drug Treatment	$10 million
Drug Courts	$25 million
Mentally Ill Offender Treatment Program	$10 million
Weed and Seed	$50 million
VAWA/STOP grants	$185.5 million
Regional Information Sharing System	$60 million
JJ Part B Formula grants	$73 million
JJ Part E Demonstration Grants	$76.5 million
JJ Part G Juvenile Mentoring	$5 million
JJ Secure Our Schools	$10 million
JJ Gang Prevention	$10 million
Juvenile Accountability Block Grant	$80 million

The committee voted in favor of bringing back the Todd Tiahrt Amendment which would prohibit the ATF from allowing gun-trace data to fall into the hands of anyone other than law enforcement who are leading criminal investigations.  Opponents are worried that this language limits the ability of police to track gun dealers who sell weapons that were used in crimes.  Supporters of this piece of legislation say that without it, the information will be open to anyone who files for it and this could not only jeopardize investigations but also law enforcement.

The House Labor/HHS Subcommittee Marks-Up Bills

The House and Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittees also marked up their bills.  The Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant was increased in both the House and the Senate; the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Programs of Regional and National Significance was increased in both houses; the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Programs of Regional and National Significance was increased in both; and while the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Committees decreased from last year, more money than was requested was granted.

*Information provided by a newsletter from the NCJA

 

SAMSHA Announces Review Priorities

SAMSHA has published its FY2008 Review Priorities for Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Program and Practices which was submitted to its National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP).  NREPP provides reliable information on interventions that prevent and treat mental and substance abuse disorders.  The new NREPP minimum review criteria require: interventions to show at least one positive change outcome in mental health or substance abuse among individuals or communities; results that are published in peer-reviewed publications or documented in evaluation reports; and finally documents to be provided to help facilitate public dissemination of the intervention.

In terms of substance use prevention and reduction, priority review areas are: underage drinking, inhalant and marijuana abuse, drug-related suicide, drug abuse among young adults, misuse of drugs among the elderly, HIV related substance abuse, and finally interventions that reduce risk factors, address budding problems, or improve protective factors.

NREPP site:

http://nrepp.samhsa.gov/help-faqs.htm

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders among Native American Populations

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has now made available a tool kit for Native American communities as a way to help educate them on FASD.  The tool kit is designed to help mothers-to-be and their friends, relatives, health professionals, and leaders understand and prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. It describes the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy.  The kit includes:

• Current data and statistics on FASD
• Fact sheets and brochures for women, men, youth and communities on how to prevent FASD and how to find help
• Strategies for FASD education and prevention
• Posters that can be copied and shared
• FASD—The Basics, a slide presentation for people with no prior knowledge of or experience with FASD
• A CD with an electronic version of the entire resource kit

The American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Resource Kit is available on the Web at http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17702.  Or by calling SAMHSA’s Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727).

A disproportionate number of Native Americans with significant health issues compared to the general population raises questions about culturally appropriate public health strategies.  For example, Native Americans are five times more likely than Caucasians to die of alcohol related causes, including liver disease. Many researchers believe that the history of violence, oppression, displacement, and loss of self-determination is a factor in many of these problems. Other contributing factors are that health services are usually inadequate and 32 percent of Native Americans live below the poverty level.  (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Among Native Americans).

The high rate of alcoholism causes 1.5 - 2.5 cases of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders per 1,000 births.  Because of the belief in many tribes that pregnancy is a sacred time, intervention efforts should focus on:

•   Incorporating tribal practices, combining mainstream, evidence based strategies with traditional elements such as talking circles and ceremonies
• Address alcohol issues in families to break the cycle of alcohol abuse
• Incorporate collaborative, holistic approaches both at home and school for people with an FASD, such as training in effective parenting and teaching strategies (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Among Native Americans).

*For more information, see cited sources:

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Among Native Americans, http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17639

Toolkit Supports Efforts in Native Communities to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, http://fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/nativeinitiative/indexhtmlorflash.cfm