Analysis Paper 3- Expert on Screening & Assessment Instrument Ed Potter A majority of individuals incarcerated in the United States are in need of substance abuse treatment. To determine who is in need of treatment, offenders are screened and assessed. According to Simpson, Joe, Knight, Rowan-Szal and Gary (2012), “two-thirds” (p. 35) of those incarcerated meet the criteria for a substance abuse disorder. Despite this overwhelming evidence, the percentage of inmates provided with treatment is low. In fact, Simpson et al. (2012) found that only a mere “11%” (p. 35) of inmates received treatment while incarcerated, and this figure is even more discouraging considering research has shown that prison-based treatment is effective. Aside from
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Both the individual’s substance abuse and criminal thinking need to be addressed. To combat this challenge, there is a growing trend in which assessments focus not only on an individual’s substance abuse, but also other problematic areas specific to the population being evaluated. As a result, treatment is more effective. According to Pankow, Simpson, Joe, Rowan-Szal and Knight (2012), treatment plans are more efficient in addressing the individual’s causes of relapse when assessments incorporate this philosophy. Moreover, when an individual makes progress in treatment with both substance use and criminal thinking, the likelihood of recidivism is reduced. (Simpson et al., 2012). One example of an instrument that takes into consideration all these factors is The Texas Christian University (TCU) short …show more content…
36) of evaluations which include: the Texas Christian University Drug Screen II (TCUDS II), the Texas Christian University Client Evaluation of Self and Treatment (CEST-Intake version) and the Texas Christian University Criminal Thinking Scales (CTSForm) (Simpson et al., 2012). The first section of the TCU short from is the TCUDS II. This instrument includes a 12 item evaluation derived from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) (Simpson et al., 2012). The purpose of this instrument is to measure the severity of an individual’s substance use prior to incarceration. The severity of the individuals substance use is determined by their responses to the 12 items and the subsequent score. In addition, this assessment includes other variables pertaining to the individuals substance use that are similar to those used in the DSM when measuring drug use dependency. These variables include, “drug usage patterns, recurring consequences (social, emotional, and physical) and withdraw symptoms” (Simpson et al., 2012, p. 37). If an individual provides three or more “affirmative responses” (p. 37) during the assessment, a diagnosis of drug dependency is rendered. Equally important to the diagnosis is the accuracy of the TCUDS II. The TCUDS II is a valid and reliable instrument, and, when compared to other screening instruments, has been found to have “one of the
Both the individual’s substance abuse and criminal thinking need to be addressed. To combat this challenge, there is a growing trend in which assessments focus not only on an individual’s substance abuse, but also other problematic areas specific to the population being evaluated. As a result, treatment is more effective. According to Pankow, Simpson, Joe, Rowan-Szal and Knight (2012), treatment plans are more efficient in addressing the individual’s causes of relapse when assessments incorporate this philosophy. Moreover, when an individual makes progress in treatment with both substance use and criminal thinking, the likelihood of recidivism is reduced. (Simpson et al., 2012). One example of an instrument that takes into consideration all these factors is The Texas Christian University (TCU) short …show more content…
36) of evaluations which include: the Texas Christian University Drug Screen II (TCUDS II), the Texas Christian University Client Evaluation of Self and Treatment (CEST-Intake version) and the Texas Christian University Criminal Thinking Scales (CTSForm) (Simpson et al., 2012). The first section of the TCU short from is the TCUDS II. This instrument includes a 12 item evaluation derived from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) (Simpson et al., 2012). The purpose of this instrument is to measure the severity of an individual’s substance use prior to incarceration. The severity of the individuals substance use is determined by their responses to the 12 items and the subsequent score. In addition, this assessment includes other variables pertaining to the individuals substance use that are similar to those used in the DSM when measuring drug use dependency. These variables include, “drug usage patterns, recurring consequences (social, emotional, and physical) and withdraw symptoms” (Simpson et al., 2012, p. 37). If an individual provides three or more “affirmative responses” (p. 37) during the assessment, a diagnosis of drug dependency is rendered. Equally important to the diagnosis is the accuracy of the TCUDS II. The TCUDS II is a valid and reliable instrument, and, when compared to other screening instruments, has been found to have “one of the