Judicial Studies Board – 4Judicial Studies Board – 4thth June 2008 June 2008

RATSDAM – A FIVE YEAR REVIEW

Rapid Assessment and Treatment Service for Drug and Alcohol Misusers

Deirdre Noade

BackgroundBackground

Joint Initiative: PBNI & NICAS

Funding: EDACT & NIO

Purpose: Provide fast track Drug Assessment &

Treatment Service

BackgroundBackgroundReferrals: PBNI Assessment Unit Pre-

Court

Suitability:Link between offending & substance misuseMotivation to address substance misuse

Treatment: 8 – 12 week Cognitive Behavioural Programme

Overview of StatisticsOverview of Statistics

937 Referrals

861 Rapid Assessments conducted

544 Orders Made

63 Custody Probation Orders

286 Completed Treatment - 86% Retention

Rates

Client ProfileClient Profile

95% Male

Average Age 30

29% assessed in custody

86% unemployed

89% self-reported mental health illness

Client Profile – conti..Client Profile – conti..Offenders: Theft (23%), Possession of

Drugs or and intent to supply (20%),

Armed Robbery (13%), Motoring (13%)

Current paramilitary threat – 20%

Previous paramilitary attack – 42%

Drug History

Chart showing client lifetime drug use

99.3

36.3

73.181.6

74.1

89.4

0.7

63.7

26.918.4

25.9

10.6

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Alcoho

l

Opiates

Cocain

e

Ecstas

y

Ampheta

mines

Canna

bis

Drugs

Per

cent

age

of c

lient

s

UsedDid not use

Use of Cocaine

22.8

72.6

14.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Did not use Cocaine Crack

Per

cent

age

of c

lient

s

Use of Opiates

41.1

20

38.9

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Did not use Heroin Other opiates

Per

cent

age

of c

lient

s

Alcohol Dependency Results (N = 96)

Client alcohol dependency levels before and after treatment

29.736.3 34

67.7

27.1

5.2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Low Medium High

Level of alcohol dependency

Perc

enta

ge

Before treatmentAfter treatment

Drug Dependency Results (N = 66)

Client drug dependency levels before and after treatment

9

35.7 35.7

19.6

53

24.2

15.2

7.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Low Moderate Substantial Severe

Level of drug dependency

Perc

enta

ge

Before treatmentAfter treatment

Depression Symptomatology Results (N = 102)

Client depression levels before and after treatment

30.8

8.8

29.6 30.8

58.8

13.715.7

11.8

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Minimal Mild Moderate Severe

Level of depression

Perc

enta

ge

Before treatmentAfter treatment

Case Scenario Case Scenario Male, 33 years old, unemployedPossession Class A & AOABHMDC – Cocaine (12 g per week)

Alcohol (max 120 units per week)History of depression, paranoia, anxietyHistory of self harm and suicide attemptGoal of treatment:

‘Reduction in Drug and Alcohol Use& Harm Reduction’

Future DirectionsFuture DirectionsMainstreaming of assessments within PBNI

Expansion throughout province

Funding difficulties