Abstract
This research focuses on determining which of the rehabilitation for chemically dependent offender populations is the most effective. Some of the issues that concern the study are: chemical dependency treatment effects of the offenders, the elements that foresee substance exploit problems and constructive dependency treatment results in offenders, the evaluation processes and tools presently in use for testing and ample assessment of offenders with chemical dependency problems and the elements for effective treatment programs. Investigation will be done through literature research and secondary surveys and interviews it is hoped that this study will help increase knowledge regarding rehabilitation for chemically dependent offender especially their effectiveness. Estimated, this study will be finished within a year.
Introduction
This study aims to examine the most effective rehabilitation for chemical dependent offender population. The following are the research questions of the study:
1. What are the chemical dependency treatment effects of the offenders?
2. What are the elements that foresee substance exploit problems and constructive dependency treatment results in offenders?
3. What are the evaluation processes and tools presently in use for testing and ample assessment of offenders with chemical dependency problems?
4. What are the needed elements for effective treatment programs?
5. What is the effectiveness values considered in examining the efficiency of the treatment?
The research questions above are considered by the researcher as a very interesting issue nowadays; however there is very few studies have focus on the above questions. House Bill 3900 (sec 26-28) entails the enhancement, implementation and examination of the Chemical Dependency Disposition Alternative (CDDA), which gives courts with a verdict alternative for chemically dependent youth. The most common major problems among the youth today are substance abuse and drug-related crimes. According to the Juvenile Rehabilitation Association (JRA), there are 82% of juvenile offenders are using chemical substances. Drug treatment is the primary responsibility of the CDDA, it is very important to give an immediate solution to the factors that contributes to the problems that the youth are facing today.
According to a study, adolescent are the most recurrent patients in abuse treatment programs of the government (Brown: 1990). Although, adolescents have less duration of substance abuse, bigger participation with alcohol and marijuana, are more probable to be poly-drug addicts and have lesser illegal records. The call for the guidance of their family and educational help is more important for adolescents in substance misuse rehabilitation in contrast to adults.
There are five types of chemical dependency treatment programs and most of these programs originated from adult treatment programs. The first program is the Therapeutic Communities, whereas a patient lives in a drug-free residence. The main principle of this program is to treat drug abuse as social and not medical in nature. The duration of this treatment is from 3 to 15 months depending on the cooperation and recovery of the patient. The completion rate of this program is only 10 to 18% of the patient’s population (Henggeler, 1996). The second type of chemical dependency treatment program is the residential settings, here; the patient is placed in a boarding school. This school is usually an inpatient non-hospital based treatment program. The residential settings believe that a substance abuser can still be a prolific member of the society. The duration of this program is usually 7-90 days depending on the program principles. The third type is the outpatient treatment, this less limiting kind among the treatment program. This program let the patient to live with their families and communities giving him immediate chance to exercise newly attain skills or behavioral transformation learned from the program. The fourth type is the community monitoring, in this program a patient may be presently using a substance, but not yet that addictive, which means the chemical use can still be checked through routine urinalyses, counseling with a probation officer or a social worker. In this program patients can also be in a house arrest, curfew or can be monitored electronically by their district officers. The last type of program is the self-help and other community based groups, most programs involves the contribution of a community based support group. This program is often considered as an aftercare because it gives positive role models and emotional supports from the big brothers and sisters of the program.
Proposed Methods
The research that will be utilized in this research is the ‘research onion process’ in order to ensure that it will get all the needed data necessary to examine which rehabilitation program is the most effective treatment for chemically dependent offenders.
The research design chosen was qualitative and quantitative research, which uses explanatory methods in describing the variables wherein the data, situations, or other facts collected will be explained or correlated with other data. It is especially useful when conducting a study wherein the data are immeasurable, such as feelings, beliefs, thoughts and others (Mays & Pope, 2000). Furthermore, the study is descriptive and focuses on the conditions set and the nature that surrounds the data and does not focus on the correlation with other collected facts.
In order to come up with the most suitable research approaches and strategies for this study, the research process “onion” is used. This is because conducting a research is like peeling the back layers of an onion—in order to come to the central issue of how to collect the necessary data needed to answer the research questions and objectives, important layers should be first peeled away. With the said process, the researcher was able to create an outline on what measures are most appropriate to be applied in the study.
It is not unusual for a researcher to first think of his research undertaking by considering whether one should, for instance, administer a questionnaire or conduct interviews, thoughts on this question should belong to the centre of the research ‘onion’. (Saunders, 2003) That is, in order to come to the central issue of how to collect the data needed to answer one’s research questions, there are important layers of the onion that need to be peeled away: the first layer raises the question of the research philosophy to adopt, the second considers the subject of research approach that flows from the research philosophy, the third examines the research strategy most applicable, the fourth layer refers to the time horizon a researcher applies to his research, and the fifth layer is the data collection methods to be used.
Then again, the research philosophy that is reflected in this study is positivism. With this research philosophy, a researcher prefers to work with an observable social reality in order to come up with law-like generalizations similar to those produced by the physical and natural scientists (Remenyi et al, 1998), and in this tradition, the researcher becomes an objective analyst, coolly making detached interpretations about those data that have been collected in an apparently value-free manner (Saunders et al, 2003). In addition, the emphasis is on a highly structured methodology to facilitate replication (Gill & Johnson, 1997) and on quantifiable observations that lend themselves to statistical analysis (Saunders et al, 2003). The assumption is that the researcher is independent of and neither affects nor is affected by the subject of the research (Remenyi et al, 1998; Saunders et al, 1998).
Meanwhile, the second layer shows that this study has assumed a deductive approach. Accordingly, this approach has five sequential stages: deducing a hypothesis; expressing the hypothesis in operational terms; testing this operational hypothesis; examining the specific outcome of the inquiry to either confirm the theory or indicate the need for its modification; and finally, modifying the theory in the light of the findings (if necessary) (Robson, 1993, p. 19).
Further, the deductive approach has a number of important characteristics. First, this approach is a search to explain causal relationships between variables, which consequently leading to the development of a hypothesis. Second, it involves the collection of a quantitative data (although it can, as well, use qualitative data), and these data are important to test a hypothesis that has been previously developed. The third characteristic of a deductive approach is that it controls to allow the testing of hypothesis. However, one must remember that with this approach, it is important that the researcher is independent of what is being observed—that is, the researcher should be objective and not subjective—so that the principle of scientific strictness will be pursued, as this approach emphasizes scientific principles. (Saunders et al, 2003)
Also, it is important that concepts are operationalised, which will enable facts to be measured quantitatively. Finally, the deductive approach is generalization (e.g., to be able to generalize about regularities in human social behavior, one must be able to select a sufficient numerical size of samples). (Saunders et al, 2003)
Reflections
Obstacles
Essentially, there are a small number of sensible and pragmatic barriers in this dissertation. On the other hand, those apprehensions should be taken care of early because it might hinder with the development of the study. The main practical apprehension is the expensiveness of purchasing journals online. This is a practical concern because monetary costs are one of the main important factors that will keep this study going. Though, the university library can be an excellent alternative to counter this problem. Another practical obstacle is the availability of resources regarding the rehabilitation programs for chemical dependent offenders. There are limited studies that are related to the focus of this study. Limited local references can affect the development of the study. On the other hand, in terms of empirical obstacles, there might not be enough statistics to show what program is the most effective in treating offenders with substance abuse – or perhaps there is difficulty obtaining them from financial service institutions. This is where secondary research will come to play. The surveys and interviews to be conducted with families and social institutions are intended to make bridges that will lead to the acquisition of important references. Overall, resources and cooperation are the two major obstacles in the study.
Conceptual and Theoretical Problems and Difficulties
The input-process-output model, the framework to be used, is compatible with the study because of its simple structure. The input will be the literatures that will be collected from different online databases. This also includes the secondary data that will be acquired from families of the chemical dependent offender and social institutions that implement the programs. The difficulty will logically be on the process of the model. The process is the analysis of the data collected and will prove to be difficult because of the different issues that the study might face. Information to be acquired should be arranged conveniently so that they can be analyzed more efficiently. The effective execution of the process will be the main importance of the research because it will determine the quality of the output.
Ethical Considerations
First, ethical considerations will be applied on the respondents of the study for secondary data. Surely, most of them would be hesitant to share their views because of certain factors they are afraid of. As an ethical stance, confidentiality of the respondents’ identity and participation will be ensured throughout the research. Furthermore, important but confidential information that respondents do not want to leak will also be respected. On the other hand, plagiarism of literatures will be avoided at all times and information will not be manipulated to acquire the desired results.
Position as a Researcher
The position of the researcher in this study is crucial because it is he or she who will conduct the whole process of the study. Furthermore, the study is under the political field because rehabilitation programs of chemical dependent offenders are under by many laws and regulations from the judicial and community sector, as well as reports that could be confidential or not. The role of the researcher is to attain the necessary information needed in the study as much as possible, and to create connections with important people who will be helpful in little and general progress of the study.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are limited studies on the evaluation of which of the Treatment programs are the most effective for chemical dependent offenders’ population. It is shown that substance abuse appears to be a serious, but treatable problem. Even though there is confirmation for the effectiveness of both inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment, there are other particular form of treatment has established reliable efficiency in encouraging long-term treatment decreases substance abuse. This study offers the opportunity to explore the evaluation of effective rehabilitation for chemically dependent offender populations. Hopefully, this research will come up to some suggestions in order for the government and other institutions to have a set standard in evaluating the efficacy of this rehabilitation programs.
Time Table
The study is expected to be finished for approximately one year. The following is the estimated time schedule:
Ø March – This month involves the approval of the proposal as well as other modifications that should be made with it.
Ø April – This month will be dedicated to field research, particularly on smart card providers and government institutions related in the study.
Ø May to June – These months will be crucially for publication materials research for the body of the study.
Ø July – This month will be research.
Ø August – Some write-ups will be documented and will be presented to adviser for review.
Ø September to October – These months are for surveys and interviews.
Ø November – Partial development of the research will again be presented to the adviser for review. Modifications will be done.
Ø December – Analysis of the data.
Ø January – Presentation and defense of the study.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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