Rehabilitation/Treatment Programs

Since the first decade of the 20th century, public policy in the United States focusing on aberrant use of illegal psychoactive substances has moved back and forth from emphases on punitive and therapeutic interventions. Systems based on therapy and treatment grew enormously during the 20th century, but there were simultaneous increases in numbers of drug offenders being imprisoned and in average length of sentences. Thus, as social policies, the punitive and therapeutic responses exist side by side, with dimensions of both conflict and cooperation. Among the most recent developments are referral of some first-time offenders into treatment as an alternative to prison, and the introduction of treatment delivery within prisons.

Substance use rehabilitation and treatment refers to the management of physical and psychological dependence on, or ...