Substance Abuse and Prisoners - Assignment Example

? Effects of Substance Abuse on Prisoners in Austin, Texas The study on the effects of substance abuse shall be conducted among the prisoners in Austin prison, Texas. It shall use 80 randomly selected prisoners to represent the population in the study. The inclusion criterion is a prisoner with a sound mind and serving not less than seven days in prison. The respondents shall be interviewed within the premises of the prison and data captured in the questionnaire. The collected data shall either be descriptive or quantitative. The qualitative data shall be coded, enumerated and listed. Averages, percentages and chi square testing shall be used to analyze quantitative data. Photographs and matrix maps shall be used in the presentation of qualitative data. The quantitative data shall be presented in tables and graphs. Introduction Substance abuse among the prisoners in Texas has been on the rise in the recent past. The detrimental impacts that substance abuse has on prisoners cannot be underestimated since they present challenges to the victims and other stakeholders such as the society and correctional institutions. The high rate of consumption of drugs by inmates in prisons, impact negatively on their health, and in the extreme cases leads to death. Substance abuse in Austin prisons is not a new trend, and it requires maximum attention, as the effects on the inmates are severe. Prisons are places meant to rehabilitate and reform the inmates, rather than to destroy them, in one way or the other. Therefore, the high incidences of substance abuse in correctional facilities have led to questions raised about the effectiveness of criminal justice systems in Austin, Texas. The high numbers of prisoners in Texas and the increasing cases of substance is a major cause of concern. Hence, there is a need for close attention to avert negative effects. Purpose Statement The study focuses on impacts of substance abuse to prisoners and the society. A major focus was on establishing reasons behind the high incidences of substance abuse in the correctional facilities. Through the study, negative impacts of substance abuse on prisoners and the community as well as other stakeholders would be determined. The effectiveness of mechanisms put in place to treat substance abuse and rehabilitate victims is examined. This would help in identification of loopholes, which result in negative outcomes. Literature Review Literature Review The number of inmates in the US prisons has continued to increase with about 2 million people imprisoned (Neubauer, 2012). The issue of incarceration in the United States is faced with a number of challenges due to the high numbers of Blacks, Latin Americans, and Native Americans. According to Stuntz, (2011), this has been met with many questions concerning the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in the US. Texas has the highest prison population. This being the case, Austin its capital City is of major concern. According to Jennifer et al. (2012), there are many problems faced by inmates in most prisons in Austin, ranging from social to psychological problems. Some of these problems arise because of under-provision of programs and policies by the criminal justice system. Substance abuse in prisons is widely spread among many inmates (Texas Statistical Report, 2012). Despite the negative impacts that it brings, some inmates continue to abuse drugs for personal or other reasons. This has been associated with under-provision of treatment for drug abusers in prisons, which make them, engage in this activity that deteriorates their health ,as well as their social lives. It has been noted that approximately 85% of prisoners in the US meet the criteria for diagnosis in drug abuse (Frakt, 2012). This is because this population has a problem of substance abuse. Texas has a wide range of correctional facilities, and this are meant to change the individual’s behavior as well as attitudes towards actions that may have led him or her to engage in criminal activities. In this case, therefore, inmates’ behaviors should be changed for their wellbeing as well as the betterment of the entire society (Joseph and Emilie, 2010). It has been noted that substance abuse has many negative impacts on inmates in Austin Prisons. Some of the negative impacts of substance abuse are related to the high risk of transmission of diseases such as hepatitis, HIV/AIDs and other sexually transmitted diseases (William and Daniel, 2005). Substance abuse may dispose the individual to engage in risky sexual behaviors, which can lead to contraction of chronic diseases that are transmitted sexually. Bearing in mind that there is the prevalence of HIV/AIDs in prisons, the risk of transmission is also very high. As people with drug influence have interfered with their psychology, this makes it easier for them to engage in risky sexual behaviors. Apart from the sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse brings about mental illnesses, which at the extreme cases lead to death of the victims (Hide et al. 2012). It has been estimated that there The number of people suffering from mental illness and instability is twice higher in jails and prisons than in psychiatric hospitals in the United States (Davis, 2003). This causes other challenges, as sicknesses require medical attention, which may be costly for individuals with economic problems. Substance abuse creates problems to the family of drug abusers, as they are the ones that mostly bear the burden of catering for medical costs of the drug abuser. Economic problems create other problems that are social in nature. Lack of treatment may lead to relapse and the individual may end up committing other crimes, which means his or her social life will be that of a prisoner which adds no value to the individual and the society (Stover and Michels, 2010). The study is therefore, very important in addressing the effects of substance abuse on prisoners in Austin. Most mental illnesses in prison are a result of substance and drug abuse (Hide et al. 2012). The mental psychology of substance abusers in prisons is disturbed by intoxication. This can make the individual to become insane or interfere with the logical thinking of the individual. Substance abuse can make the individual to alter his moods and change his or her attitudes and behaviors towards a particular thing. In most cases, even when substance abusers are released from prisons, most have a problem with health which affects their lives in all aspects including economic and social. According to research, two-thirds of prisoners who report back to prison consume alcohol or drug prior to incarceration (Hide et al. 2012). Many of the prisoners who return back to the community do not receive health services, and this contributes to instability making them engage in criminal activities that see them back to prisons. The families of drug abusers are mostly affected especially emotionally and economically in supporting their relative. Due to the many negative abuse associated with drug abuse in prisons, there is a dire need for intervention of stakeholders at all levels to fight against substance abuse. Although there are programs and policies established by the criminal justice system in Texas to deal with drug abusers, it seems like they are not sufficient. This is so because cases of substance abuse and their negative impacts have not reduced. Research Questions and hypothesis Research Questions The research shall seek to answer the following questions. a) What are the main causes of substance abuse among the prisoners in Austin, Texas? b) What is the magnitude of substance abuse problem in Austin prison? c) What are the effects of substance abuse on Austin prisoners? d) What are the main challenges faced by substance abusers in Austin prison, Texas e) How are authorities in Austin prison responding to the problem of substance abuse among the prisoners? Hypothesis I. Ho: there is no relationship between a weak criminal justice system and prevalence of substance use in prisons. H1: there is a relationship between a weak criminal justice system and prevalence of substance use in prisons. II. H: drug-related offenses influence drug abuse in Austin prisons H1: drug-related offenses do not influence drug abuse in Austin prisons III. Ho: there is no relationship between negative effects on substance abusers and challenges to relatives of substance abusers H1: there is a relationship between negative effects on substance abusers and challenges to relatives of substance abusers Research Methodology The study shall use 80 prisoners as the representative of the population. The simple random sampling techniques shall be used to come up with the sample. Each prisoner shall be given a number in a sequential manner according to the alphabetical arrangement of their names. The numbers shall be fed into an online application called randomizer to generate 100 unique numbers. However, it is expected that some will be excluded from questioning. The numbers shall then be checked against the name to identify the prisoners selected for study. All prisoners who have more than 7 days jail term will be eligible to participate in the study. However, a prisoner shall be excluded from the study if he or she is not of sound mind at the time of study. The study shall take a mixed approach design in the form of survey. This method is widely used in social research where characteristics of interests are studied within the population. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods shall be used. This being the case therefore, the study will apply both the qualitative and quantitative methods to collect and analyze data. Some of the variables that will be determined include age, educational level, religion and types of drugs. Research tools The study shall use a structured questionnaire as a principle tool for data collection. The questionnaire shall contain both closed end and open end questions. The closed end questions will have predetermined choices which the respondents shall select. On the other hand, respondent shall be expressing their thoughts and feelings in open ended questions. This questionnaire shall be administered through one on one interview with the respondent. How the result will be measured and analyzed Data will be analyzed using both descriptive and quantitative methods. The averages and the percentages shall be used in the analysis of quantitative data. For instance, the average age of involvement in substance abuse shall be calculated. Besides, hypothesis will be tested using mathematical methods (chi-square) to determine the relationship between variables. For instance the number of substance abusers who were brought to be prison because of drug related cases shall be compared with those with different cases. For qualitative data coding and grouping shall be used in the analysis. The use of all these methods will ensure that the objectives of the study are achieved which is the most important thing in any research. How the results will be presented The quantitative data shall be presented by the used of tabulation and diagrammatic methods. Data will be calculated and recorded in tables. The recorded data will then be presented in the form of pie charts and bar graphs. For qualitative data, photographs taken from prison shall be used to present the situation. The other technique that shall be used to present descriptive data will be matrix maps. Conclusion Effects of substance abuse on inmates of Austin are diverse and impact on the individual and society negatively. Inmates have a right to receive treatment for their drug addiction comparable to the treatment that exists in the community (Stover and Michels, 2010). The treatment should be one that gives maximum benefits to the drug user to become a helpful person to the society. There are programs and treatment that have worked for various victims of substance abuse, and these should be adopted in the criminal justice system in Texas. Besides, the criminal justice system should be reformed so that the prison serves a corrective purpose. References Chang, C. (2010). The Impact of Implementing Smoking Bans Among Incarcerated Substance Users: A Qualitative Study. . Evaluation & The Health Professions, 33(4), 473-479. Davis, Angela Y (2003). Are Prisons Obsolete? Turnaround Publisher Services Ltd: Canada Frakt, A. (2012). Under-provision of substance use treatment in prisons. The Incidental Economist, 9(8), 119. Hide, Y., Lambert, M., Hyunzee, J., & Solveig, S. (2012). Positive Family Social Support: Counteracting Negative Effects of Mental Illness and Substance Abuse to Reduce Jail Ex-inmate Recidivism Rates. . Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 22(2), 130-147. Jennifer, P., George, J., & Paul, M. (2012). Hide, Y., Lambert, M., Hyunzee, J., & Solveig, S. (2012). Positive Family Social Support: Counteracting Negative Effects of Mental Illness and Substance Abuse to Reduce Jail Ex-inmate Recidivism Rates. . Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 22(2), 130-147. . Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 51(1/2), 78-95. Joseph, P., & Emilie, B. (2010). Risk of Reincarceration Among Prisoners with Co-occurring Severe Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders. . Administration & Policy in Mental Health & Mental Health Services Research, 37(4), 367-374. Neubauer, David W (2011). America's Courts and the Criminal Justice System. Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Belmont, CA: Statistical Report. (2012, September 6). Crime Statistics, The University of Texas at Austin Police Department (UTPD). Home | The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved November 17, 2012, from http://www.utexas.edu/police/reports/statistics/ Stover, H., & Michels, I. (2010). Drug use and opioid substitution treatment for prisoners. Harm Reduction Journal, 7(17), 153-158. Stuntz, William J. (2011). The Collapse of American Criminal Justice. Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Cambridge. William, K., Tammy, M., & Daniel, M. (2005). Juvenile Referals in Texas: An Assessment of Criminogenic Needs and the Gap Between Needs and Services . Prison Journal, 85(4), 467-489. Read More