SUPERVISING THE SUBSTANCE ABUSER

1. SUPERVISING THE SUBSTANCE ABUSER CARL REDDICK NEWPORT, OREGON

2. What is Probation and What is Parole • Probation = O >Courts > Corrections • Parole = O > Prisons > Corrections • Bench probation = O > Courts • Diversion = O > Courts > O (no record) • Drug Court • Deferred Sentence

3. Who mandates what ? • The Courts mandate abstinence and treatment (talk about a cognitive disconnect for the medical model ! ) • The PO’s are as bound as the offenders by the Court Order (PV’s) • The Parole Board mandates treatment (PV’s) • Every state also has ‘general conditions’ such as… • So, usually, PO’s have the authority to impose treatment (Oregon Model)

4. Authority of (most) Parole and Probation Officers • Every state is different but almost all states recognize PO’s as law enforcement officers with the power of: • Arrest. (This is not COPS / no warrant) • Numbers by POs compared to PD • Search and Seizure without a warrant • Let’s discuss a typical home call ‘gone all wrong’

5. 2 rules before we start today’s journey • #1 Just ‘cause Carl says it, that don’t make it true • #2 Results take time to measure

6. Let’s go inside the secret workings of a typical probation office • Regardless of what you hear, most offices have about as much respect for treatment as you have for probation. • Most PO’s do not have the interview skills you have. But they are more street wise than you think and their information is fresher • Last week Officer Dave went on a home visit with a local treatment provider • Popov was the drug of choice. The counselor was not surprised…but she was horrified.

7. Why do PO’s seem so harsh or lazy ? • It is as overwhelming at our end as it is in the substance abuse field. • Or maybe it’s just that PO’s are not smart enough to evolve or leave • After 7 or 8 years you realize you are seeing the same people. • What we share with treatment is the perception that ‘it’ doesn’t work. • Damned if ‘ya do, damned if ‘ya don’t

8. Supervising the Substance Abuser • This is a special population / MANDATED ! TO ! TREATMENT ! • They use drugs AND they commit crimes. • AND they have to work very VERY hard to get to see a PO

9. THE 5 ROADS TO FAILURE • What is your local PO’s success rate ? How about yours ? What are we measuring ? • If it is low this is probably due to: • Mixed, fuzzy, and counter-productive goals • Lack of genuine attempt to achieve goals • Climate increasingly hostile • Lack of support from key people • Core belief that people can’t change

10. But Hey ! • PO’s can always blame the therapists

11. AND • Therapists can always blame the PO’s

12. Because who is playing both sides of this equation ? • Who is the messenger boy between agencies • Who tells us about those awful probation officers ? • Who tells us about those ineffective therapists ? • Who has already set the tone, done the interagency training, and evaluated services ?

13. But • There is plenty of responsibility to go around • A well-run PO office… • Prepares the O for treatment • Has officers trained in A&D issues • Physically meets with the therapists • Wait…there’s more !

14. A well-organized response to addiction in the offender population also requires… • Understanding and use of complementary models by both agencies • One voice – one message in the community (yes I mean politically) • Valuing what each partner offers in the effort to address addiction within an offender population

15. THE 5 ROADS TO SUCCESS • Define your tasks…Define your goals • Be aware of your own personal issues which remain unresolved • Understand that one size does not fit all… • Plan for different levels of responsivity (race / gender / class / age) • Always remember that mandated clients are acting the way they are supposed to act

16. ‘Personal Issues’ could mean: • Some PO’s have unresolved substance abuse issues • Some of us have been consumers of correctional services • Some of us are engaged in the same thinking errors as the Offenders

17. Better understanding • Before we can enter into a dialogue with a mandated population we must understand the world from their point of view • Their beliefs about the world are different than your beliefs (hopefully) • So…ask them, “Why do you use drugs” • Be prepared to listen very carefully

18. We must use better language • “Do many of your friends use drugs ?” • “When did you leave school”…”Why” • “What do you want your life to look like” • “Have you ever tried to stop”… ”Why “ • “Would you urge your own children to use drugs”…”why”…”why not” • “What would be in it for you to stop using”

19. STEP #1 to supervision (and treatment ?) • Unless and until the clients can admit that they, themselves, have not been acting in their own best interest, they will continue to use. • That is the reason for the question “WHY” • The cognitive approach spends several sessions helping the client develop answers to the question “WHY”

20. STEP #2…DEFUSING THE BLAME SYNDROME • When you ask…they will tell you about... • Their parents / family • Their stress level • Their culture / friends / geography • Their hopelessness / the world isn’t fair (and who would you like to speak to about this ?) • Capture and ask questions about these beliefs

21. STEP #3Help them define their own ‘Happiness’ • Happiness is not the same as thrills and fun • “When was the last time you were truly happy”…”Were drugs involved ?” • Happiness is not pleasure • “What does your current home life look like”…”Are drugs involved?”

22. STEP #4Generating Self-Motivational Statements • This is as easy as asking ‘Tell me, on a scale of 1-10…’ • Remember, your belief system gets in the way here…Listen for client’s statements of willingness to change • Do clients lie ??? • Sure, but that’s the first step. • Your response here is critical

23. Miller and Rollnick say... • First…do no harm • There is probably nowhere else in the community that this dialogue can take place for this client • DO NOT argue, disagree, challenge, threaten, blame, promise, criticize, warn, sympathize, persuade, analyze, or be sarcastic. Just DO it.

24. Proper Supervision of Substance Abusers • Must work in conjunction with disciplined therapy • Must have an appropriate continuum sanctions • Must have open and transparent lines of communication with all partners • Must understand the models being used in the therapeutic community

25. LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE ! • Captured a belief system • Recorded reasons for the behavior • Inquired about aspirations • Fixed responsibility for behavior • Gotten a response as to whether or not drugs get us to our goals • Solicited statements about willingness to change

26. NOW WHAT ? • If you make referrals, make one that is appropriate and motivated. • If you do cognitive work (pre-treatment) collaborate with your treatment provider • If you consider yourself a therapist, take a good, long, hard look at what effort you have made, personally, with the local people who supervise the substance abuser.

27. OUR OWN BELIEF SYSTEMS • Absolutely drive this work • Just because some sobered up on the medical model doesn’t mean it applies to everyone • What do we truly believe about the possibility for change (our line of work) • What do we truly believe about both Probation and Therapy ? • We are in this together

28. BECAUSE… • If you always think what you always thought… • You’ll always get what you always got