Effects of a Therapeutic Community on Korean Substance Abusers in Prison

Abstract

This study tested the effectiveness of a therapeutic community (TC) intervention on imprisoned Korean substance abusers. Volunteer participants from 2 Korean prisons were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n D 24) with the TC intervention or a control group (n D 24) with optional supportive sessions. Pretest and posttest data were collected on measures of abstinence self-efficacy and problem-solving skills. Participants in the TC intervention showed significant increases in abstinence self-efficacy and problem-solving skills, whereas those in the control group did not. The differences in abstinence self-efficacy for the TC were found for 2 of 3 subscales: Problem-Solving Confidence and Approach-Avoidance Style but not Self-Control. Further study is needed to replicate these findings with larger Korean prison populations and to establish the relationship between these skill dimensions and subsequent drug use and criminal recidivism for this population. Nevertheless, the findings suggest potential benefits of using a TC intervention with imprisoned Korean substance abusers.

A systematic review of evaluations of prison‐based alcohol and other drug use behavioural treatment for men

“…Year of publication: Twelve evaluations were published between 1995 and 2005 25–36 and 13 between 2006 and 2015 37–49 …”

“…Country of origin: Over half the evaluations were of programs in the United States ( n =15), 25–28,31–34,36,38,39,41,43,45,48 there were two each from Canada 37,46 and Taiwan, 29,47 and one each from Australia, 35 Croatia, 30 Japan, 40 Poland, 49 the United Kingdom (Wales), 44 and South Korea 42 …”

“…Format of treatment provided: Four treatment format modes were described: i) residential ( n =6); 25,26,28,29,37,38 ii) therapeutic prison ( n =3); 30,39,40 iii) therapeutic community ( n =8); 31–34,41–43,48 and iv) group treatment ( n =7) 35,36,44–47,49 …”

“…Treatment approach: Seven different treatment approaches were described: i) CBT, or a derivative such as cognitive social therapy ( n =8); 25,26,33,37,40,44,46,47 ii) self‐help, most commonly the Alcoholics Anonymous 12‐step program (n=7); 27–30,33,38,49 iii) psychoeducational approaches (n=6); 29,30,35,37,38,41 iv) a MATRIX model (n=2); 40,41 v) meditational approach (n=2); 39,47 vi) a computerised educational program (n=1); 45 and vii) a Native American therapeutic healing program (n=1) 36 . Several studies only described the treatment approach as being a TC with limited other detail given, even though a TC is not necessarily a treatment approach in the same way as the other treatments (n=7) 31–34,42,43,48 . In terms of post‐prison follow‐up treatment, three TCs and one residential program included post‐prison care, 28,31,32,34 and a therapeutic prison had 12‐step program attendance as a condition for release (although post‐prison attendance was not monitored) 30…”

“…Ongoing or evaluation project only: Twenty‐one studies evaluated ongoing treatment programs 25–33,35,37,38,40–43,45,46,48–50 and four were evaluations of a specific type of AoD treatment 36,39,44,47 …”