Substance Abuse Evaluations in Child Custody Cases
A. Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP I make a number of assumptions when conducting a substance abuse evaluations as part of a litigation process: The individual’s use is usually not less than the individual reports, but it might often be more (or much more). Inaccurate accusations of substance abuse are common because there is usually little […]
Heroin Addiction Treatment in Prison
The United States has the world’s highest incarceration rate. Approximately 10 million individuals are sent to prison each year, and more than half of them have a history of substance abuse. Further, more than 200,000 have a history of heroin addiction. A recent study suggests that the prison system could improve addiction treatment offered to inmates. Nunn […]
Mental Health Among Drug Court Participants in Drug Treatment
Although drug courts successfully reduce rates of recidivism for participants, research indicates that there is a need to develop mental health screenings to detect co-occurring mental health issues during associated drug treatment. What is a Drug Court? Drug courts are specialized court dockets that bring together judiciary, prosecution, defense, probation, law enforcement, mental health, […]
Alcohol Recovery and Domestic Violence
Among men who seek alcohol recovery, there are high rates of co-occurring alcohol dependence and intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV may include physical abuse, sexual abuse, threats, and emotional abuse directed toward current and former spouses and dating partners. A sensible approach for alcohol treatment for these men would need to include interventions that address […]
DWI, Depression & Motivation to Achieve Alcohol Recovery
Because alcohol use disorders are common among driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) offenders, a DWI arrest may serve as an opportunity for psychological screening and subsequent alcohol treatment. Holt et. al. examined the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) as a tool for predicting intervention outcomes in first-time DWI offenders. The BDI is a multiple-choice self survey consisting of 21 […]
Court Ordered 12-Step Attendance is Illegal
A. Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP Wondering if court ordered 12-step attendance is illegal? You’re not the only one. This article is not intended to convey legal advice, which can only be provided by an attorney licensed in your state. What follows is an addiction psychologist’s summary of a legal issue he has been following for […]