Impact Evaluation of an Addiction Intervention Program in a Quebec Prison

OBJECTIVES This study evaluates the effects of a prison-based addiction intervention program. The evaluation is based on a multidimensional data collection that draws a portrait of the respondents' substance use, and of their psychological/emotional, social, and judicial spheres. It measures the changes, or lack thereof, in substance use; the psychological/emotional, social, and judicial spheres; as well as the post-treatment services used. METHOD A quasi-experimental repeated measures design (0, 6 weeks, and 6 months) was used. Effects of the program were identified by comparing the results obtained by a group of inmates who had participated in the program (n = 80; experimental group) with those of another group who had received no intervention (n = 70; control group). RESULTS The preliminary results suggested a certain treatment effect related to impulsivity and psychological distress. CONCLUSION Although the preliminary results were promising, the experimental and control groups did not differ significantly when more robust analyses were used.