Jail or church?

[Gorgo]

This is exactly a violation of the separation of church and state, and even if it weren't, it's just a dumb idea. Right?
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LONDON, Kentucky (AP) -- A Kentucky judge has been offering some drug and alcohol offenders the option of attending worship services instead of going to jail or rehab -- a practice some say violates the separation of church and state.

From http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/05/31/ch....ap/index.html

[Starboy]

It would be one thing if the judge said rehab or jail with no preference for the provider of the rehab but if the judge is specifically recommending a christian rehab for no other reason than it happens to be of the judges faith then that is a violation of the judges duty as a judge. It doesn't matter that the judge gets nothing directly out of it, a judge is supposed to be impartial. A judge must be able to give the same justice to people of any religion or no religion at all and any judge that expresses a preference for a religion in their capacity as a judge has just fired themselves.

Starboy

[Gorgo]

True, except that judges should be giving a preference for rehab. Science-based rehab, rather than 12-step or other rehab based on superstition.

[Starboy]

Quote by: Gorgo True, except that judges should be giving a preference for rehab. Science-based rehab, rather than 12-step or other rehab based on superstition.

I have no problem how many steps or if it even includes supernaturalism as long as it can be demonstrated honestly that it works better than other methods or at least better than no rehab at all. After all I would like to see people get better. The problem with many rehab programs is few to none of them have been tested in a double blind test against a placebo, or no treatment at all, let alone other programs. What little data there is suggests that most rehab programs are actually worse than no rehab at all.

Starboy

[Gorgo]

Quote by: Starboy What little data there is suggests that most rehab programs are actually worse than no rehab at all.

Well, you know that includes all supernatural 12-step-based nonsense.

"The field of addiction has been dominated by a model that has not changed much since its beginning. I am referring to the disease model and the 12-step model of recovery. It has withstood the test of time, and for some unsettling reasons."

"In fact, the list of elements that are typically included in alcoholism treatment in the US evidenced a commonality: virtually all of them lacked adequate scientific evidence of effectiveness. These techniques include: confrontation, non-directive group therapy, intensive inpatient rehabilitation and A.A. Techniques which have demonstrated effectiveness include: cognitive behavioral interventions, social skills training, behavioral marital therapy and brief motivationally oriented interventions which tap into existing skills and prepare people to change on their own. Also receiving a great deal of empirical support are moderation training interventions which help people whose alcohol problems are non-severe learn how to cut down their alcohol consumption. This technique in particular has angered so many people in the mental health field that it may be a decade or more before moderation training becomes acceptable in the US."

http://www.habitsmart.com/stifle.html

[Starboy]

Yes I am aware of all that. For some reason the so called social sciences would be better called the social cargo cult sciences. It is just too bad because it doesn't have to be that way. My only explanation is the predominant presence of faith based organizations in the field that resist any honest assessments of their claims.

Starboy