working with young adult offenders

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Working with Young Adult Offenders

Joe Lunievicz, BA RYTExecutive Director, NDRI-USA, Inc.

[email protected]

Working with Young Adults2

Agenda

YA Challenges

Adolescent and Young Adult Developmental Issues

Strategies and Case Studies


Activity

What have you seen to be the goals of the young adults in your drug courts?

What have you been able to note as the influences that impact on the lives of young adult clients.

Working with Young Adults

Forced Choices Exercise

Answer the questions agree/disagree

Discuss in your small group

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“No matter how articulate the practitioner may be, the words may not be comprehended if the speaker lacks understanding of the effects of drug use on adolescent cognitive development and the individual’s ability to comprehend the court proceedings in which he/she is involved, to comply with court orders and conditions of release, and most important, to be motivated to change his/her behavior over the long term.”

Cooper, Adolescent Drug Users, 2008


Drug Court YA challenges

Little motivation to succeed Denial of drug abuse Low frustration tolerance Minimal family support Negative peer influences Lack of role models High rates of trauma &

victimization


These lead to…

Young adults stay in the first phase of treatment longer than other drug court participants

More court sanctions and incarcerations

Higher rate of placement in treatment facilities than level of addiction

Less positive outcomes


Review & Revision

Need for review and implementation of effective strategies with young adult population.

o Redefining practitioner perspective


“Adolescence is the period of physical and psychological development from the onset of puberty to maturity.”

American Heritage Dictionary


Major Developmental Shifts

Adolescence (Early and Middle teens)

Young Adulthood (Late teens and early

twenties)

Later Adulthood (Mid-twenties and after)

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Adolescence

Abstract Thinking

Increased intensity of emotion

Increased sensation-seeking

Sensitivity to alcohol & other drugs

Changes in sleep cycle

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Limitations

Right & wrong thinking

Instrumental focus

Emotional regulation

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16-17 years old

More likely than adults to be Impulsive Aggressive Emotionally volatile Likely to take risks Reactive to stress Vulnerable to peer pressure


Young Adulthood

Greater complexity of thinking Critical thinking More integration of cognitive & emotional Relationships based on shared values, mutuality Respect for diversity Modified risk taking Decisions based on future consequences & impact

on others

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Limitations

Abstract principles

Following vs. shaping rules and roles

External vs. internal basis for decisions

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Later Adulthood

Greater complexity of thinking Shaping vs. following rules and roles Solving ill-structured problems Big picture thinking Self-correction, self-evaluation Internalized commitment of relationships and

work Evaluation of external expectations

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Brain changes in Young Adulthood

Maturation of brain from back to front

Prefontal Cortex Myelination: adding white

matter Synaptic Pruning:

decreasing number of connections

Connections among regions


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Source: Tapert & Schweinsburg, 2005

Prefrontal Cortex Executive Suite

Matures last (ages 25-26 for full maturity)

Calibration of risk & reward “On second thought… ”

Problem-solving

Prioritizing

Thinking ahead

Self-evaluation

Long-term planning

Regulation of emotions


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Caveats

Not automatic

Roles for both nature and nurture

Periods of equilibrium

Intermediate steps

Uneven across areas

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Developmental Range

Optimal spurts

Functional gradual

Nature vs. Nurture Developmental stage and vulnerability to environmental

influences

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Influences on Level of Functioning

Emotional arousal: cold cognition vs. hot cognition

Alert vs. Sleepy Familiarity of context Familiarity of content Practice Support


Individual & cultural Variation

Age, education, gender

Abuse, neglect, trauma

Race, ethnicity, sexual identity

Temperament

Family background, parenting style

Illness

Learning disabilities

Substance abuse

Ares of concentrated interest

Cultural background


Positives Influences

Challenging Old thinking Faculty and other adult interactions Diversity of peers Interdisciplinary and integrative approaches Out of classroom experience Instruction in cognitive skills, eg critical thinking


Positive Influences

Providing support for growth Matching level of challenge with ability Scaffolding, balance of structure and flexibility Safety net, monitoring Tincture of time


Drugs and the Brain

Impact on the brain’s reward circuit (limbic system)

Pleasure = release dopamine

Drugs hijack the system and release more over a longer period of time.

Impact on the Pre-frontal Cortex


Alcohol

Adolescents with a history of alcohol use disorder may show deficits in short-term memory 10% less memory on short term verbal and non-verbal tasks

Hippocampus encodes new information into memory Adolescents with history of alcohol abuse have smaller

hippocampus volume

Most vulnerable parts of the brain associated with memory, attention, sleep, coordination and judgment.


Marijuana and THC

Hippocampus, cerebellum, basal ganglia, cerebralcortex Interferes with learning and memory Impacts on ability to study, learn new things, recalling

recent events (short term memory) Long term impact

inability to do complex tasks Increased risk of psychosis Increased of depression and anxiety


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Case StudiesStrategies from Denver and Seattle


Denver Adult Drug Court, CO

Situation: Evaluation showed 18-25 were least successful in program Pre-contemplators for problem smoking Marijuana drug of choice Entire family smoked Lack of male role models Limited job skills and education Hopelessness about future Cognitively function as adolescents

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Denver Program

One dedicated probation officer

Dedicated docket began with 10 and now have 35

Everyone gets a case manager

Don’t use disease model or call it treatment or recovery

Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (cognitive behavioral manualized treatment protocol) Focus on job, school, family, substance abuse

We go to them Do home visitations – teach child safety Meet them at Starbucks or the park

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Denver Program (continued)

All case managers have cell phones for texting

Significant other involvement (CRAFT)

Train Police Officers to be mentors

Life skills groups

Tours of colleges and trade schools

Attorney talks about legal status regard to children

Athletics Basketball with former Denver Nugget Phoenix multi-sport (recovering addicts) weightlifting, yoga, 12-step group

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Seattle WA

Young Adult track 18-25 Deliveries or possession with intent to sell Gangs and home environment issues, trauma Marijuana, alcohol, PCP, Spice, Oxy

Used American University for TA

2 & ½ day retreat – resources and development of new approach

Work with 1 treatment agency who works best with this age group

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Seattle WA – Developmental Approach

Changed phase system from 3 to 4 Each phase has smaller segments Within 90 period they don’t have to restart entire phase only the

segment they were on 60 consecutive days of sanction free time 30 days of consecutive abstinent time Achieve three short-term goals as per treatment plan Treatment plan includes long and short term goals Presentation of portfolio to judge and peers to move to next phase

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Seattle WA continued

60-day treatment program in custody in local jail MRT, drug and alcohol treatment

Step down to work-release program – structure

Housing that’s clean and sober

Then community service, volunteer work, be in school, or vocational training

Sanction grid approached differently: Drug related get therapeutic interventions like writing assignments or

community service Punitive sanctions for behavioral problems

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Seattle WA continued

Two week returns or weekly

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Mental Health Counseling

Life Skills, couples and family counseling

Vocational education specialist on staff

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Young Adult Development References

A. Rae Simpson, The MIT Young Adult Development Project

Adult Services Plan: Serving 18-25 year-olds Best Practices; Chief Probation Officers of California; 9/11/07

Successful Young Adult Development, Benson & Scales Search Institute; 12/4/05

Developmental Counseling: The Young adult Period, Lee A. Beaty

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working with young adult offenders

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