❓ Hon Giz Watson's parliamentary question addresses the prevalence of alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems within the Department of Corrective Services' client base, the availability of treatment, and the Department's reliance on community services. The response indicates a high prevalence of AOD issues and a reliance on community agencies, while acknowledging some reductions in internal programs.
AnsweredQoN 4960Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What percentage of clients engaged through the Department of Corrective Services have alcohol and other drug problems?
(2) What percentage of these people were engaged in some form of alcohol and other drug treatment or support in the past year?
(3) Is it true that internal alcohol and other drug services, provided by the Department, have been reduced over the past year?
(4) Which alcohol and other drug services are to be maintained by the Department?
(5) Does the Department intend to manage alcohol and other drug issues within their resources?
(6) Is it the intention of the Department to engage the services of community alcohol and other drug agencies to address drug issues?
(7) If yes to (6), is there an indication of the added pressure this will place on community services, and is there an intention to support these community services with resources?
(2) What percentage of these people were engaged in some form of alcohol and other drug treatment or support in the past year?
(3) Is it true that internal alcohol and other drug services, provided by the Department, have been reduced over the past year?
(4) Which alcohol and other drug services are to be maintained by the Department?
(5) Does the Department intend to manage alcohol and other drug issues within their resources?
(6) Is it the intention of the Department to engage the services of community alcohol and other drug agencies to address drug issues?
(7) If yes to (6), is there an indication of the added pressure this will place on community services, and is there an intention to support these community services with resources?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 August 2007
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
55 days
Answer
(1)
· Of all women prisoners surveyed in 2003, 78% of respondents reported they had frequently used drugs and alcohol in the six months prior to their arrest;
[1]
· The DUCO 2005
[2]
study indicates 67% of juveniles in detention regularly used a substance prior to detention which equates to 630 juveniles in 2005/06;
· DUCO identifies that approximately 62% of prisoners have AOD problems which equates to 4,874 prisoners in 2005/06;
· A survey of the data captured by the Department's needs and risk assessment tool for adults identified that 53% (6500) of all adults on community orders had a AOD problem
(2) Data of this nature is not readily available. In most cases, access to such information is beyond the reach of the Department's influence, and for others would require considerable research which would divert staff from higher priority tasks.
(3) The Department provides a range of drug and alcohol services to offenders in custody. Recent strategies to increase the delivery of treatment programs to high risk prisoners have caused some low intensity programs to be reduced.
(4) The Department is committed to continuing service provision to offenders with alcohol and other drug issues and the majority of treatment programs currently offered by the Department will be maintained.
(5) Yes - the Department intends to manage alcohol and other drug issues within its resources.
(6-7) The Department currently engages the services of community drug and alcohol treatment agencies.
As the rate of clients with drug and alcohol issues is significantly higher in Corrective Services than in other Agencies, the Department will continue to rely on non-government treatment agencies to deliver services to offenders with alcohol and other drug issues.
[1]
Department of Justice
Profile of Women Prisoners
, 2003
[2]
Extracted from WA data in the
Drug Use Careers of Offenders Research
, Institute of Criminology
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(1)
· Of all women prisoners surveyed in 2003, 78% of respondents reported they had frequently used drugs and alcohol in the six months prior to their arrest;
[1]
· The DUCO 2005
[2]
study indicates 67% of juveniles in detention regularly used a substance prior to detention which equates to 630 juveniles in 2005/06;
· DUCO identifies that approximately 62% of prisoners have AOD problems which equates to 4,874 prisoners in 2005/06;
· A survey of the data captured by the Department's needs and risk assessment tool for adults identified that 53% (6500) of all adults on community orders had a AOD problem
(2) Data of this nature is not readily available. In most cases, access to such information is beyond the reach of the Department's influence, and for others would require considerable research which would divert staff from higher priority tasks.
(3) The Department provides a range of drug and alcohol services to offenders in custody. Recent strategies to increase the delivery of treatment programs to high risk prisoners have caused some low intensity programs to be reduced.
(4) The Department is committed to continuing service provision to offenders with alcohol and other drug issues and the majority of treatment programs currently offered by the Department will be maintained.
(5) Yes - the Department intends to manage alcohol and other drug issues within its resources.
(6-7) The Department currently engages the services of community drug and alcohol treatment agencies.
As the rate of clients with drug and alcohol issues is significantly higher in Corrective Services than in other Agencies, the Department will continue to rely on non-government treatment agencies to deliver services to offenders with alcohol and other drug issues.
[1]
Department of Justice
Profile of Women Prisoners
, 2003
[2]
Extracted from WA data in the
Drug Use Careers of Offenders Research
, Institute of Criminology
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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