Abstract
This pilot study involved 40 adults participating in treatment through the Northern Sydney Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) Program, Australia. Standardized health outcomes questionnaires such as the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS), Kessler–10 (K-10), and Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF36), were administered to each participant on three different occasions: pre-treatment episode, post-treatment episode, and 3 months follow-up. The study aimed to determine whether any observed benefits to participants at completion of the MERIT program were continued 3 to 6 months post treatment. Although the findings indicate that some benefits achieved throughout the treatment phase were maintained at follow-up, the pilot study has a number of methodological limitations, and as such, further research is recommended.
Highlights
The Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment (MERIT) program is a 3-month pre-sentence substance use treatment program based at a Local Court level in New South Wales (NSW)
The MERIT program operates within a harm minimization framework in accordance with drug treatment policy in Australia, and treatment plans for participants vary dependent on factors such as the type of substance used and the severity of problems
Consistent with previous research, this study demonstrated that on completion of the MERIT Program, participants reported improvements across a number of health and wellbeing domains, as well as reduced levels of dependence on illicit drug use, compared with what was reported at entry into the program
Summary
The Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment (MERIT) program is a 3-month pre-sentence substance use treatment program based at a Local Court level in New South Wales (NSW). As a court diversion program, MERIT operates in accordance with the principle of therapeutic jurisprudence, utilizing interactions with the legal system and increased judicial involvement to promote offender rehabilitation (Wexler, 1990). The MERIT program operates within a harm minimization framework in accordance with drug treatment policy in Australia, and treatment plans for participants vary dependent on factors such as the type of substance used and the severity of problems. To complete the MERIT program, participants are required to engage in an agreed treatment plan to achieve their substance use goal (i.e., reduction or abstinence from illicit substances). After a 3-month treatment episode, a report is submitted to the Magistrate outlining treatment outcome, and this may be considered in sentencing
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