Breaking the cycle demonstration project: using a quasi-experimental analysis to test the “worst of both worlds” hypothesis and risk principle

Abstract

Objectives The purpose of this study was to test the Bworst of both worlds^hypothesis and the risk principle in a sample of drug-involved offenders enrolled in the Breaking the Cycle (BTC) demonstration project, an intensive drug intervention implemented in Birmingham, Alabama, Jacksonville, Florida, and Tacoma, Washington. Methods A group of 1081 drug-involved offenders enrolled in BTC were compared to 934 drug-involved offenders (pre-BTC) who processed through the regular court system of each city 1 year prior to implementation of BTC. Participants from both groups were divided into risk levels based on scores from the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) Drug (D) and Legal (L) scales. Individuals who scored at or above the mean on both the ASI-D and ASI-L were identified as high risk, individuals who scored at or above the mean on either the ASI-D or ASI-L but not both were identified as moderate risk, and individuals who scored below the mean on both the ASI-D and ASI-L were identified as low risk. Results Consistent with the risk principle, high-risk BTC participants displayed significant improvements in subsequent drug problem days, criminal offending, and days spent in jail relative to high-risk pre-BTC participants. There was no apparent benefit of BTC enrollment for moderate-and low-risk participants. Conclusions These results indicate that drug-crime comorbidity can be used to assess risk and that individuals identified as high risk are more likely to benefit from higherintensity forms of intervention than moderate-or low-risk individuals.

Profiles in Criminal Psychopathology: A Multiple Case Report Study of the p Factor

“…This is consistent with most prior research of criminal careers [ 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ]. Moreover, clients with more worst substance abuse histories frequently had the lengthiest arrest histories that is consistent with the “worst of both worlds” thesis [ 65 , 66 ]. The case profiles also revealed the idiosyncratic nature of offending and substance use where there also appears to be evidence of criminal specialization or least preferences for certain types of crime.…”

Does the Worst of Both Worlds Effect Run Through Cognition? Testing Perceived Peer Delinquency/Drug Use and Moral Neutralization as Mediating Mechanisms

“…Prior research supports the construct and predictive validity of the WBW index (Walters, 2014a;2016a, 2017. In the Walters (2017) investigation, it was determined that drugs and crime interacted to form the WBW, at least during early to mid-adolescence.…”

“…It has also been noted that the WBW effect registers even when developmental antecedents to drug use and crime (alcohol experimentation and school bullying, respectively) are used to create the comorbidity variable so that drug use and criminality need not be of lifestyle proportions to produce a WBW effect (Walters, 2022). Walters (2016a) further surmised that drug-crime comorbidity could serve as a risk factor. This risk factor could then be used to identify high risk individuals who respond better to more intensive forms of intervention than individuals who exhibit drug use or crime separately (moderate risk) or are drug and crime free (low risk).…”

The Drug–Crime Connection in Adolescent and Adult Respondents

“…Given the apparent additive nature of the “worst of both worlds” effect in adults, risk of future substance and criminal involvement in later life should be measured with a continuous scale that sums prior substance and criminal involvement. Walters (2016) recently compared substance use and criminal outcomes in drug-involved adult probationers enrolled in an intensive drug treatment program versus drug-involved probationers receiving standard probation and treatment services, broken down by risk level. In this study, risk level was determined by above-average scores on measures of prior substance and criminal involvement.…”