Abstract

Publisher Summary Rounding off the “central eight” risk/need factors is substance abuse. Subsumed under substance abuse are alcohol misuse and the use of illegal drugs. Alcohol and other drug abuse are quite prevalent among offender populations, but their relationship to crime is moderate. The prevalence of alcohol abuse among offender samples is quite high, certainly much higher than that found in the general population. Offenders and victims also report a high incidence of drinking at the time of the offense. Treatments for alcohol abuse include a variety of interventions such as pharmacological treatment, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and alcoholics anonymous. This chapter discusses the community reinforcement approach to alcohol abuse. Unlike alcohol abuse, illegal drug abuse has a closer relationship to crime because of the illicit status of drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and so on. An addiction to any of these drugs places a person directly into contact with other criminals and, in many cases, may exert pressure to engage in other illegal activity in order to buy drugs. Some drugs directly initiate thoughts that lead to antisocial behavior. Substance abuse, undifferentiated from alcohol misuse, is a commonly found risk factor for crime among adults and young offenders. Treatment from a theoretical perspective includes offsetting the rewards associated with substance abuse involves altering many reinforcement contingencies.

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