A programme for alcohol related violence with offenders with intellectual disability

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-10-2013-0024
Date03 June 2014
Pages107-119
Published date03 June 2014
AuthorWilliam R. Lindsay,Kerry Joanne Smith,Samantha Tinsley,Jane Macer,Sandra Miller
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Offending behaviour
A programme for alcohol related violence
with offenders with intellectual disability
William R. Lindsay, Kerry Joanne Smith, Samantha Tinsley, Jane Macer and Sandra Miller
Professor William R. Lindsay is
the Clinical Director, based at
Danshell Health, London, UK;
University of Abertay, Dundee,
UK; Bangor University,
Gwynedd, UK and Deakin
University, Melbourne,
Australia.
Samantha Tinsley and
Jane Macer,both are based at,
Danshell Health, London, UK,
where Kerry Joanne Smith is
an Assistant Psychologist
Dr Sandra Miller is based at
NHS Tayside, Dundee, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – Although studies suggest alcohol abuse is not the major problem among offenders and others
with intellectual disabilities (ID), it is still a significant problem. There are also suggestions that alcohol
may have a more serious effect on those with ID. The purpose of this paper is to describe a treatment for
alcohol-related difficulties designed for people with ID.
Design/methodology/approach – A programme for alcohol-related problems is described and four case
studies are presented to illustrate the sessions and review the way in which people with ID have responded
to the methods. The cases have a mixture of alcohol-related problems including anger, anxiety, social
withdrawal and depression.The alcohol programme is coordinated with a range of person centred interventions
for specific difficulties.
Findings – All cases responded to the programme positively. Two cases showed reductions in anger, two
reported reductions in anxiety and one reported reductions in depression. All cases increased their alcohol
knowledge considerably.
Research limitations/implications – The programme seems promising in its approach to alcohol-related
difficulties. It is noted that alcohol education alone is likely to improve participants’ wellbeing in the absence
of coordinated intervention for other relevant personal difficulties. A controlled treatment trial for effectiveness
is clearly required.
Originality/value – The paper describes a programme for alcohol-related problems and may be the first
such programme that has contained pilot evaluation.
Keywords Intellectual disability, Offenders, Treatment, Violence, Alcohol abuse, Emotional problems
Paper type Case study
Some studies have reviewed the prevalence of alcohol use in people with intellectual disabilities (ID)
compared to the general population. Emerson and Turnbull (2005) reviewed information on 95
teenagers with ID using the 1999 Office of National Statistics Survey on the Mental Health of
Children and Adolescents in Great Britain. Fewer of the teenagers with ID reported drinking alcohol
when compared to teenagers without ID (12 v. 23 per cent). Rimmer et al. (1995) ina comparison
employing adults found that although those with ID had a lower prevalence of alcohol use, those
who had recently moved out of institutions drank significantly more alcohol than those who had
always lived in community settings. McGillicuddy and Blane (1999) reviewed 122 people with ID
and reported that although the majority did not use alcohol, around half of those who did drink did
so to problematic levels. In relation to offenders with ID, Hayes and Carmody (1990) reported that
66 per cent of their sample were either intoxicated at the time of their offence or previous alcohol
abusers. In a subsequent study, Hayes (1996) reviewed individuals with and without ID in New
South Wales courts. She found that 90 per cent of both groups had consumed some alcohol on
the day of the alleged offence. Two further Australian studies found the prevalence rates of alcohol
and substance abuse in offenders with ID to be between 45 and 87 per cent (Klimecki et al., 1994;
McGillivray and Moore, 2001).
Several authors have recently published more comprehensive studies reviewing a range of
offendingincluding alcohol-relatedoffences. Rainaand Lunsky (2010) compared offenderswith ID
DOI 10.1108/JIDOB-10-2013-0024 VOL. 5 NO. 2 2014, pp. 107-119, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8824
j
JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR
j
PAGE 107

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