Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

The war on drugs has been upended in California with the Supreme Court holding of Brown vs. Plata in 2011. The historic decision, the initiation of the Affordable Care Act, and recent voter passing of Proposition 47 that reduces felonies to misdemeanors has created all eyes on California. An alert was created to determine the possible impact of sentence reform in the country. Sentence reform is a national consideration. Even President Obama made history as the first President ever to raise the issue of sentence reform at the last State of the Union address. Californiaâ�?�?sâ�?�? shift on treatment policies regarding substance abuse and mental health has influenced service delivery alternatives among the formerly incarcerated. As individuals are released back into the community, challenges are faced on multiple levels that include treatment options, public empathy, community safety and consequences of exposure to complex trauma during incarceration. Research will need to be explored to identify treatment approaches that are best suitable for this population to help train clinicians to identify pre-incarceration versus post incarceration cognitive distortions and the ability to identify â�?�?Scarface syndromeâ�? pretentiousness. Understanding the process of arrest, booking, jail politics, gang intimidation, defeat and surrender, conduct vs. anti-social disorder, behind the wall rehabilitation, failed jail discharge plans, the facing of environmental stressors, and the impact of stigma and perception is more crucial in the 21st century than in previous years. In addition treatment cultures private and public will be impacted.

Biography