| Abstract: | Substance use disorders are the cause of significant suffering for individuals and impose a tremendous burden on society in terms of related social costs. Current drug policy in the USA has failed to have a significant impact on the prevalence or the deleterious effects of this group of illnesses. Crime, violence, family disruption and economic displacement are felt most acutely by already impoverished and disadvantaged communities. The need for a public health approach to these problems rather than a law enforcement solution, is discussed with special attention to compulsory drug use treatment approaches. These approaches are considered in the context of their history and effectiveness through a review of current literature. The positive and negative aspects of compulsory treatment approaches are summarised and recommendations for expanded use of treatment options for clients involved with the criminal justice system are elaborated. |
