A Paradigm for Socialization: Empowering African-American Substance Abusers to Maximize their Human Potential

181 Presentation A PARADIGM FOR SOCIALIZATION: EMPOWERING AFRICAN-AMERICAN SUBSTANCE ABUSERS TO MAXIMIZE THEIR HUMAN POTENTIAL JASPER E. ORMOND Program Director Pilot Substance Abuse Program District of Columbia Department of Corrections Medium Facility, Box 99 horion, VA 22079 The D.C. Department of Corrections is currently implementing a residential substance abuse treatment program. This program provides intensive transitional treatment for repeat offenders with histories of chronic substance abuse. The Department's inmate population has a high rate of recidivism: 51 percent were previously incarcerated. Eighty-six percent of the population have a documented history of substance abuse. Violent crimes represent the highest percentage of offenses committed. At least 50 percent were unemployed at that time of their criminal offense. Additionally, the population is primarily urban, inner-city African-American males for whom, far too often, the repeated cycle of substance abuse, crime, and incarceration has become a pattern of life.* "These data were compiled from information obtained in a random sample of inmate institutional jackets of 286 inmates within 18 months of parole, incarcerated at Lorton and the Detention Facility. Documents reviewed in each of the 286 institutional jackets included the Presentence report from the Social Services Division, Syra Emit Urine Testing reports, D.C. Narcotics Surveillance Division Drug and Alcohol Abuse Program information, inmate social background data, psychological evaluations, Classification Committee Action reports and history, Initial Orientation and Classification reports, court-related reports, and some medical information. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, Vol. 3, No. 1, Summer 1992 182 Empowering African-American Substance Abusers A three-phase continuum of care model has been designed to help targeted inmates end destructive behavior patterns and develop individual skills while incarcerated to enable them to lead healthy, productive lives in the community. Intensive treatment interventions are comprehensive and individualized ; these interventions are based on a cognitive and behavioral treatment model that focuses on the following components: • Criminality /Substance Abuse • Anxiety/Depression • Education/Functional Literacy • Vocation/Career Development • Leisure Skills Development/Physical Fitness • Family/Community Network • Psychosocial Functioning • Nutrition • Spirituality The above components are based on the following guiding assumptions: • Treatment must provide a relevant ethnic specific context for identifying experiences and relationships that encourage self-destructive patterns of criminal activity and drug abuse. • Self-defeating attitudes, values, and thinking patterns are often accompanied by poor vocational, academic, and social skills, and inadequate emotional development. • Meaningful treatment for this population must alter patterns of selfdestructive behavior and address each individual's def icitsand strengths. • Treatment must support each individual in identifying and pursuing realistic goals and opportunities for successful functioning in the community . Ormond 183 Treatment components The treatment components will constitute a multifaceted social-ecological environment (staff, peers, symbols of success, principles, expectations, mediums of expression, etc.) for promoting and supporting individual development and constructive expression. The components of the treatment program will provide empowering information to enable the resident to discontinue destructive behavior, particularly substance abuse, criminal activity, and consequential patterns of incarceration. The treatment components are designed to be interdependent, with each component serving a specific function that supports the other treatment components. Together, the components will provide a total treatment environment for restoring and enhancing the healthy functioning of each resident. Each resident's treatment plan will reflect a combination of the treatment components discussed below, modified to address his specific treatment objectives. Psychoeducational Modules. These educational interventions are designed to introduce residents to central treatment issues and to involve them in the process of learning. Modules will be conducted by counselors in a classroom -style format, but instructors will encourage the residents to participate in discussions and exercises so that they can develop a personal understanding of the treatment issues. Written assignments, readings, and audio-visual presentations will accompany the lectures to enable the participant to grasp the subject and to provide opportunities to build literacy skills. The modules, presented in four cycles, are designed to give each participant a better understanding of self and community. Each cyclepresents both the restoration and enhancement of core objectives. The modules are designed to address restoration objectives initially, while gradually including enhancement information. Thus, residents are able to build two frames of reference, one designed to recognize...