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ABSTRACT
Drug abuse has been a persistent problem within the United States. Among the nation, Kentucky ranks third in drug overdose and drug mortality rates, with numbers quadrupling from 1999 to 2010. Recent statistics indicate drug offenders account for a significant portion of individuals within the criminal justice system, directly affecting the economic vitality within the state. These statistics suggest current behavior modification treatments have limited effectiveness, creating community hardships both socially and economically. This study examines an innovative alternative treatment for drug offenders that infuses social and emotional coping strategies using percussion as a context. During the innovative program, participants were able to express, recognize, articulate and evaluate themselves and their peers' emotional coping strategies while developing peer camaraderie.
INTRODUCTION
Drugs have been a persistent problem within the United States. National crime report data (2011) reflected the highest number of arrests were associated with drug abuse violations (estimated at 1,531,251 arrests), and the second highest included driving under the influence (estimated at 1,215,077) (Bunn & Slavova, 2012; Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2012). These overwhelming numbers are also reflected in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In 2009, 52,597 arrests were made for drug violations and 26,050 arrests were made for driving under the influence (Koyagi, 2009). These statistics signify that drug offenders account for a large percentage of offenders within the criminal justice system. Additionally, the financial burden of incarceration, rehabilitation and medical care falls heavily on local agencies and tax payers. In 2010, hospital charges incurred as a result of drug overdose were $68,572,368 in the Commonwealth of Kentucky; only fifteen percent of the total being paid by the patient (Bunn & Slavova, 2012; Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2012). These statistics suggest current drug prevention and rehabilitation efforts are limited in their success. Within the context of drug rehabilitation, most contemporary treatments incorporate generalized behavior modification techniques for the masses. However, no single treatment is universal.
Due to current public interest and availability, cognitive behavioral therapy has gained increasing popularity (Mennin, Ellard, Fresco, & Gross, 2013). Cognitive behavioral therapy is a treatment method that examines the relationships between individual thoughts, feelings and behaviors (National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 2012). The premise behind cognitive behavioral therapy is to explore individual patterns in thinking and...