Presentation Type
Poster
Preliminary Results from the WeCan! Pinellas Drug Court Program
Abstract
Prescription drug abuse is on the rise, and women are more susceptible to abuse since they are often prescribed medications at higher rates than men. This finding, coupled with the fact that Pinellas County, Florida has one of the highest rates of prescription drug abuse, prompted several agencies to collaborate on a federally-funded program to address prescription drug abuse in women identified through drug court. The program is entitled WeCan! (Women Empowered and Coping with Addiction to Narcotics), and involves substance abuse treatment from two agencies in Pinellas County. Clinical services include cognitive-behavioral therapy/motivational enhancement therapy (MET/CBT) sessions and Seeking Safety manualized group treatment, and biweekly status hearings before the drug court judge. To evaluate the program, 71 clients to date completed standardized measures at baseline and 6-month follow-up including the Circumstances, Motivation, and Readiness to Change (CMR) Scale, Global Assessment of Individual Need (GAIN) assessment, and prior criminal justice. Preliminary findings demonstrated that substance use decreased from baseline to 6-month follow-up. Clients also reported improved levels of motivation and high rates of treatment satisfaction. Future directions of the study include examination of denial and motivational scales to help differentiate which clients are ready for change.
Categories
Behavioral Sciences
Research Type
Thesis
Mentor Information
Dr. Kathleen Moore
Preliminary Results from the WeCan! Pinellas Drug Court Program
Prescription drug abuse is on the rise, and women are more susceptible to abuse since they are often prescribed medications at higher rates than men. This finding, coupled with the fact that Pinellas County, Florida has one of the highest rates of prescription drug abuse, prompted several agencies to collaborate on a federally-funded program to address prescription drug abuse in women identified through drug court. The program is entitled WeCan! (Women Empowered and Coping with Addiction to Narcotics), and involves substance abuse treatment from two agencies in Pinellas County. Clinical services include cognitive-behavioral therapy/motivational enhancement therapy (MET/CBT) sessions and Seeking Safety manualized group treatment, and biweekly status hearings before the drug court judge. To evaluate the program, 71 clients to date completed standardized measures at baseline and 6-month follow-up including the Circumstances, Motivation, and Readiness to Change (CMR) Scale, Global Assessment of Individual Need (GAIN) assessment, and prior criminal justice. Preliminary findings demonstrated that substance use decreased from baseline to 6-month follow-up. Clients also reported improved levels of motivation and high rates of treatment satisfaction. Future directions of the study include examination of denial and motivational scales to help differentiate which clients are ready for change.
