How Having a Criminal Record Can Impact the Ability to Stop Using Drugs

What is it about?

This is a qualitative study of individuals who have been incarcerated at least once and also have had current or past drug use issues. The results show that not only do the collateral consequences of being justice-involved impact one's ability to re-enter society, but also impacts the ability to reach and maintain sobriety. This is highlighted through three prominent areas: employment, living arrangement, and community supervision.

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Why is it important?

These findings support the call for more holistic approaches to crime and drug use, rather than punitive responses. In order to support individuals with drug use issues, we must eliminate, or at least mitigate, challenges that create additional barriers to an already complicated process of drug use recovery, one of which is punitive approaches.