Evaluación de la eficacia de un tratamiento libre de drogas intrapenitenciario / Evaluation of the effectiveness of a prison-based drug treatment

El presente estudio evalúa la eficacia de una unidad libre de drogas intrapenitenciaria en la reducción del consumo de sustancias, y analiza los cambios en el perfil de gravedad de la adicción, la motivación y el perfil de personalidad provocados por la intervención. Se trata de una evaluación externa, con un diseño ex post facto de medidas repetidas. Se evalúan 87 reclusos a lo largo de un año de estancia en el programa. La mayoría son varones jóvenes y policonsumidores que cumplen condena por delitos contra la salud pública y contra la propiedad. Muchos presentan necesidad de tratamiento psiquiátrico al ingreso, con una comorbilidad del 85% con trastornos de personalidad. La motivación para el tratamiento es baja, y se mantiene estable a lo largo de los 12 meses que dura el estudio. La unidad libre de drogas consigue disminuir el consumo de drogas, y mejorar las áreas de consumo, de relaciones familiares y el perfil de personalidad. Sin embargo, no se logran cambios en las áreas médica y psiquiátrica, por lo que se resalta la necesidad de intervención en estos ámbitos (AU)

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a drug-free unit (DFU) in reducing the use of substances by incarcerated adult offenders, and to analyze changes in the addiction severity index, motivation, and personality caused by the program. This is an external evaluation, with an ex post facto design with repeated measures. Eighty-seven prisoners from the DFU were evaluated during the first year of residence in the program. Most are young men, polydrug addicts and mainly serving sentences for public health crimes and property offenses. There is need of psychiatric treatment at the baseline, with 85% comorbid personality disorders. Motivation for treatment is low, and remains stable over 12 month’s duration of the study. The DFU was found to have a significant effect in reducing the use of drugs by offenders and to improve the drug and family composite scores, also reducing scores on personality scales. However, it fails to change medical and psychiatric scores, so that the need for intervention in these areas is underscored (AU)

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of a prison-based drug treatment]. / Evaluación de la efi cacia de un tratamiento libre de drogas intrapenitenciario.

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a drug-free unit (DFU) in reducing the use of substances by incarcerated adult offenders, and to analyze changes in the addiction severity index, motivation, and personality caused by the program. This is an external evaluation, with an ex post facto design with repeated measures. Eighty-seven prisoners from the DFU were evaluated during the first year of residence in the program. Most are young men, polydrug addicts and mainly serving sentences for public health crimes and property offenses. There is need of psychiatric treatment at the baseline, with 85% comorbid personality disorders. Motivation for treatment is low, and remains stable over 12 month's duration of the study. The DFU was found to have a significant effect in reducing the use of drugs by offenders and to improve the drug and family composite scores, also reducing scores on personality scales. However, it fails to change medical and psychiatric scores, so that the need for intervention in these areas is underscored.