Steven Belenko – författare

An authority on anti-drug policy and crack since it became a popular street drug in the mid-1980s, Belenko traces the development of America's policy response in the context of changes in policy that were underway when crack first appeared. He summarizes the state of our knowledge about crack, its pharmacological properties, its use and effects on health and behavior, and its distribution. Moreover, he makes recommendations about policies to deal with the next drug epidemic. This empirical analysis and public policy study is intended for teachers, graduate students, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in drug control and treatment, criminal justice law enforcement, and in public administration.

Debates over the use and abuse of drugs, the laws controlling drugs in this country, and the question of whether or not certain drugs should be legally available have inflamed Americans since the 19th-century, and continue to flourish as America attempts to rage its war on drugs. Students can trace the history and development of these arguments, as well as the reactions to them, through this unique collection of over 250 primary documents. Court cases, speeches, laws, opinion pieces, and other documents bring to life the controversies surrounding the issues. Explanatory introductions to documents aid users in understanding the various arguments put forth, while illuminating the significance of each document.Belenko traces the origins and changes in the nature of drug use and abuse in this country, as well as drug policy. Students can follow the evolution of the laws that have limited access to drugs such as cocaine and opium that were once legal in this country, as well as read the differing opinions in recent history on whether or not certain drugs such as marijuana ought to be legally available. The carefully chosen documents reflect the fact that our government's decisions have not always ended public controversy about how to deal with drug related problems and the very real consequences of addiction. The introductory and explanatory text help readers understand the nature of the conflicts, the issues being litigated, the social and cultural pressures that have shaped the debates, and the manner in which the passions of individual people have affected our drug policies.

Community corrections programs are emerging as an effective alternative to incarceration for drug-involved offenders, to reduce recidivism and improve public health and public safety.  Since evidence-based practice is gaining recognition as a success factor in both community systems and substance abuse treatment, a merger of the two seems logical and desirable. But integrating evidence-based addiction treatment into community corrections is no small feat—costs, personnel decisions, and effective, appropriate interventions are all critical considerations. Featuring the first model of implementation strategies linking these fields, Implementing Evidence-Based Practices in Community Corrections and Addiction Treatment sets out criteria for identifying practices and programs as evidence. The book’s detailed blueprint is based on extensive research into organizational factors (e.g., management buy-in) and external forces (e.g., funding, resources) with the most impact on the adoption of evidence-based practices, and implementation issues ranging from skill building to quality control. With this knowledge, organizations can set realistic, attainable goals and achieve treatment outcomes that reflect the evidence base.  Included in the coverage:Determining evidence for “what works.”Organization change and technology transfer: theory and literature review.The current state of addiction treatment and community corrections.Unique challenges of evidence-based addiction treatment under community supervision.Assessing suitability of evidence-based practice in real-world settings.A conceptual model for implementing evidence-based treatment in community corrections. Implementing Evidence-Based Practices in Community Corrections and Addiction Treatment is a breakthrough volume for graduate- and postgraduate-level researchers incriminology, as well as policymakers and public health researchers.