Question

Three of the "Big Four" risk factors are actually needs factors. Drug abuse is not listed as one of these "Big Four" needs factors but can you make a case for drug abuse deserving at least as much attention as antisocial personality processes, antisocial cognition, and antisocial peer associations in assessing and classifying offenders

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) It is common that the problem of drug abuse can trigger several cognitive impairments. Amongst those issues are antisocial behaviour, antisocial personality, antisocial peer associations, aggression, chemical imbalances etc.

Considering that all of the symptoms are listed as problems, it would only be befitting if one of the “disease” that caused these problems would also be listed. Since drug abuse is the “disease” that causes these problems, it would help consolidate cases better if it were listed as a need factor.

Furthermore, antisocial personality disorders require therapeutic and medicinal cures like most grave disorders. Sorting cases such as drug abuse would help categorise and solve these issues in a more proficient manner.