| Main
findings
It
is recognised that the research sample is small; with
only 25 questionnaires of the initial target of eighty-six
having been completed and returned. Statistically
this is not a particularly significant sample. However,
particularly within the qualitative data gathered,
the research has a great deal of validity. It raises
some interesting and challenging questions for treatment
services. The views expressed by those who completed
questionnaires in terms of the effectiveness of wrap-around
treatment appear to point to considerable gaps and
failures in treatment services for Black and minority
ethnic substance misusers. The
questionnaire findings are backed up by the views
expressed by the five participants in the focus group.
The focus group findings provide important qualitative
data on the experiences of Black and minority ethnic
substance misusers who have passed through the criminal
justice system.
1.
Profile
The
target group for the research project was male Black
and minority ethnic substance misusers over the age
of 18 within the prison service, engaged with the
Probation Service or the local CJIT or in the community.
The
findings confirm that the target group was reached.
All participants in the research were male and from
Black and minority ethnic communities. The majority
were in the age range 30-39. The largest ethnic groups
represented were Black British Caribbean, Asian British
Pakistani and Asian British Indian.
Most
were born in the UK and have lived here for 11 years
or more.
The
predominant religion was Islam (38%) for those who
completed questionnaires.
Many
of the target group struggle to deal with painful
feelings such as guilt, isolation, shame, despair
and fear as well as dealing with mental health problems.
These are difficult psychological and mental health
issues underlying their drug addictions which services
need to be able to respond to sensitively and effectively.
2.
Experience of the Criminal Justice System
All
25 of the questionnaire respondents had experienced
arrest. 14 were serving a prison sentence with sentences
ranging from 30 days to 19.5 years.
Crucially,
16 of the 25 respondents stated that their arrest
did not lead to a drugs test.
Only
7 respondents stated they had been put into contact
with a support agency and only 5 could identify which
agency.
It
appears that a significant number of those who took
part in the research did not feel that the staff they
encountered even cared about their problem. Responses
to the question ‘Did staff care about you and
your problems’ included:
•
Didn’t feel any connection or empathy’
• ‘Becomes boring to them see so many’
• ‘No, [staff did not care] on release
will have to live in bail hostel with drug users’
If
Black and minority ethnic substance misusers in the
criminal justice system feel that staff do not even
care about them there would appear to be little prospect
of actively and successfully engaging them in treatment
programmes and aftercare services.
Amongst
respondents there appears to be some confusion concerning
which agency they might be in contact with. For example,
there appears to be confusion about whether a worker
is an arrest referral worker or not? The different
roles of workers and the agencies they represent need
to be made clear to service users.
The
report identifies a need for services to make available
culturally appropriate support to those clients from
Black and minority ethnic communities with substance
misuse problems. The best way to understand what shape
these services might need to take will be to consult
with Black and minority ethnic clients and organisations.
3.
Experiences of Prison
17
of the twenty-five respondents who completed questionnaires
were in prison. Of these, 6 stated that drug use was
the reason they were there.
Responses
to questions asking whether those in prison had seen
a treatment service or probation worker whilst in
prison present a very mixed view. Again there is a
lack of clarity about workers, services and their
titles or names.
The
findings concerning respondents’ experiences
of drug treatment whilst in prison paint a similarly
unsatisfactory picture. Only 7 respondents stated
that they were offered any treatment for their drug
problem.
Only
7 of 14 respondents who answered the question stated
that they had been offered any kind of support service
for their drug use and only 7 of 14 said they had
received any ‘drug education’.
An
analysis of responses to the questionnaire in particular,
focusing on respondents experiences of prison, highlights
gaps and failings in services to Black and minority
ethnic substance misusers.
[NB
it should be acknowledged that in some instances respondent’s
experiences in prison pre-date thelaunch of the DIP
initiative.]
4.
Drug Use
Findings
concerning drug use show that respondents to the questionnaire
used a wide variety of drugs, with crack and heroin
being the drugs of choice for the majority. Respondents
to the questionnaire and those who took part in the
focus group stated that they were spending between
less than £50 to over £1000 per week on
drugs, with the majority spending between £150
and £550 per week. It is reasonable to assume
that this would have been funded through crime.
When
questioned about their alcohol use, 6 of 17 respondents
stated that they had a problem with alcohol. 7 of
14 respondents stated that their alcohol use had contributed
to their drug taking and 11 of 13 stated they had
frequently mixed drugs and alcohol. 7 respondents
stated that they had substituted drugs with alcohol.
Overall
these findings paint a picture of the target group
mixing drugs and alcohol and moving between the two
when necessary or when it helped. This highlights
the well-established link between drug and alcohol
misuse and points to the need to develop strategies
and provide services that will enable drug users to
tackle their drug and alcohol problems together.
5.
Treatment
Overall,
the findings from both the questionnaire and focus
group highlight:
•
Significant gaps in services
•
A regular failure by services to respond to the particular
cultural, spiritual, psychological and emotional
needs of the research group
•
Often
unhelpful attitudes and approaches on behalf of staff
and institutions
The research findings point to the need to significantly
improve services at all stages – from arrest
to custody to aftercare.
However,
the picture is not all bleak. Responses to a question
about treatment staff were overall very positive.
8 of 10 respondents rated their satisfaction with
staff as 6 and above on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1
as not very satisfied’ and 10 as ‘very
satisfied’.)
Both
the questionnaire respondents and those who took part
in the focus group make many useful recommendations
as to how services to Black and minority ethnic substance
misusers in the Criminal Justice system can be changed
and improved.
|
