Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Cameron John

Abstract

According to the Colorado Judicial Branch, 78 problem-solving courts operate in the 20 judicial districts in Colorado. The Summit County and Eagle County drug court programs are located in Colorado's Fifth Judicial District and have not been previously studied. Evaluating treatment programs for effectiveness contributes to social change because it ensures individuals in need of treatment are receiving the proper services. The Eagle County drug court program had 117 participants and the Summit County drug court program had 33 participants. The Summit County Drug Court used 2 cognitive behavioral therapies: moral reconation therapy and strategies for self-improvement and change. The Eagle County Drug Court used the new Planting Seeds: A Client-Centered Approach to Addiction Treatment program in conjunction with mandatory 12-step support group participation as the basis for their treatment intervention. All participants in both groups completed a pre- and posttest Level of Service Inventory-Revised assessment, which measured the risk of recidivism, and the Adult Substance Use Survey-Revised to assess the severity of their substance use disorder. The data were analyzed using an analysis of covariance and a linear mixed-effects model; posttest Level of Service Inventory-Revised scores served as the dependent variable. Results indicated that successfully completing treatment significantly lowered the risk of recidivism, and that the Eagle County participants were more likely than the Summit County participants to successfully complete treatment. This study contributes to social change by advancing a new intervention that assists in keeping individuals who are in need of services in treatment longer, which in turn lowers their risk to reoffend.

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