Statewide Penetration and Standard Costs of Psychotropic Medications

This study will examine differences in pharmaceutical utilization rates relative to financial risk arrangements of differing insurance plans. During the last four years we have noted consistent differences in utilization of expensive, psychotropic medications between individuals enrolled in Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), which are at financial risk for the provision of pharmaceuticals, and the MediPass program in which the state bears the risk of pharmacy expenses. Persons in HMOs had lower levels of utilization

Mock defendants\u27 procedural justice judgments of alternative trial procedures in a medical malpractice case

Mental health professionals were asked to imagine themselves in the role of defendant in a medical malpractice case. Each participant was told that their case could be tried according to standard adversary trial procedures or by an alternative procedure. The alternative procedures involved either varying the way that expert testimony would be developed or bifurcation of issues at trial. Participants rated the available alternative procedure relative to the ADVERS procedure in terms of preference, fairness, willingness to comply with trial outcomes, and other procedural justice dimensions. Results indicated a strong endorsement of potential alternatives to the standard adversarial trial process for resolving medical malpractice claims

Predictors of Retention and Arrest in Drug Courts

As the drug court movement has grown, so has the body of research on program outcomes and participant characteristics. Attempts to determine which participant characteristics and circumstances might influence drug court outcomes, how-ever, have been limited. Completed in 1998, the Escambia County (Florida) Adult Drug Court evaluation of predictors of retention and arrest is among the first to address this im-portant area of research. This article presents the outcomes of the Escambia evaluation. involved for many years in diverse research projects involving substance abuse and mental health services within criminal justice and foren-sic settings

Predictors of Retention and Arrest in Drug Courts

As the drug court movement has grown, so has the body of research on program outcomes and participant characteristics. Attempts to determine which participant characteristics and circumstances might influence drug court outcomes, how-ever, have been limited. Completed in 1998, the Escambia County (Florida) Adult Drug Court evaluation of predictors of retention and arrest is among the first to address this im-portant area of research. This article presents the outcomes of the Escambia evaluation. involved for many years in diverse research projects involving substance abuse and mental health services within criminal justice and foren-sic settings

Treatment of Substance-Abusing Jail Inmates: Examination of Gender Differences

Females incarcerated for drug-related offenses represent one of the fastest growing populations within jails and prisons. The few studies of female offenders with substance abuse disorders depict a population with multiple psychosocial problems and treatment needs, and one that is characterized by frequent exposure to sexual abuse and other violence. The current study examined intake assessment results from a sample of 1,655 substance-involved jail inmates referred to a jail treatment program in Tampa, Florida, including 26% female and 74% male inmates. The study was designed to identify gender differences in psychosocial characteristics and substance abuse treatment needs among jail inmates. Results indicate that female inmates more frequently experienced employment problems, had lower incomes, more frequently reported cocaine as the primary drug of choice, and were more likely to report depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, and a history of physical and sexual abuse. Implications for developing specialized treatment approaches for female offenders are discussed, including use of integrated treatment strategies

Examining the Effectiveness of In-Jail Substance Abuse Treatment

Thc recent drug use epidemic has led to a significant increase in the number of incarcerated drug-involved inmates throughout the country and has challenged jail and prison administrators to develop programs to reduce drug relapse and drug-related crime. In response to increasing problems of drug dependence among jail inmates, the US. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in 1987 funded development of three model demonstration jail substance abuse treatment programs. The current study reviews findings from an evaluation of 535 inmates admitted to the Hillsborough County Sheriff\u27s Office Substance Abuse Treatment Program, in Tampa, Florida from 1988 to 1991. Evaluation findings indicate that over a one-year period following release from custody, inmates participating in the six-week jail treatment program remained significantly longer in the community until rearrest, experienced fewer arrests, and served less jail time in comparison to a group of untreated inmates. Significant improvements were also observed in program participants\u27 abilities to use coping skills to effectively respond to high risk situations for drug relapse, in acquisition of knowledge regarding relapse prevention and recovely principles, and in self-confidence in dealing with high risk situations. Implications for development of jail substance abuse treatment programs and for further research are discussed