Medizinische und juristische Beurteilung substanzabhängiger (mutmaßlicher) Täter

Bruckmüller, Karin; Köchl, Birgit; Fischer, Gabriele; Jagsch, Reinhold; Soyer, Richard

doi:10.1007/s00730-011-0027-y

Cited by 5 publications

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“…The discrepancy between self-assessments and professional external severity ratings might be at least partly caused by patients’ low self-esteem, low education and stigmatization from society (Bruckmüller et al., 2011; Otiashvili et al., 2013). Legal and medical professionals have to be trained in addiction knowledge to understand that this target group, to a broad extent, lacks insight into their disease or tend to disregard its severity (Bruckmüller et al., 2011). More specialized and interdisciplinary trainings for all parties involved are needed to ensure a high standard of care and translational communication.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health-related and legal interventions: A comparison of allegedly delinquent and convicted opioid addicts in Austria

Koechl

Danner

Jagsch

et al. 2013

Drug Science, Policy and Law

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In Austria, judges can offer quasi-compulsory treatment options (in-and outpatient settings) as an alternative to imprisonment for drug-related delinquencies. A standard assessment of medical, psychological and legal data on the implementation of health-related and legal interventions in Austria was applied in 96 opioid-dependent individuals (10.4% female) undergoing quasi-compulsory treatment, receiving health-related measures. Additional data from the official prison registry were collected (data of 228 imprisoned individuals sentenced for drug-related crimes; 14.5% female) to gain comparable information to in-and outpatient health-related measure groups. Health-related measures were offered significantly more often to individuals charged with solely narcotics possession and/or trade, whereas imprisonment was filed significantly more often when concomitant property or violent crimes were committed in addition to drug possession/dealing (p < 0.001). Both cohorts had high prevalences of previous convictions (health-related measure 84.4%, prison 93.9%). The majority of patients in health-related measures suffered at the time of investigation from severe depression (62.5%), anxiety disorders (58.3%) and had a high loading of suicidal ideation (45.8%). Women showed a higher prevalence of affective disorders (p ¼ 0.042), with higher administration rates of psychopharmacological medication (p ¼ 0.045), whereas male offenders scored significantly higher in violent behaviour (p ¼ 0.004). Inpatients showed a significantly higher burden of comorbid disorders compared to outpatients and reported a higher need for psychiatric treatment and legal counselling (all p < 0.001). The inpatient sample had a longer duration of opioid use (p ¼ 0.024), a higher lifetime prevalence of intravenous drug use (p < 0.001) and a higher rate of hepatitis C infections (p ¼ 0.012). Results confirm that imprisonment is sentenced to a vast extent for severe crimes, and health-related measure is well accepted among judges. However, based on patients' high loading of previous convictions and alarmingly high burden of comorbidities, quality improvement and assurance in health-related measure are required when patients have their first contact with the criminal justice system. Continuous focus on applying diversion procedures is also required to reduce societal costs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%