Ensuring Success in Interventions with Drug-Using Offenders

Abstract

A significant proportion of crime in the United States is directly related to the use of illicit drugs. Substantial reductions in crime at all levels could be obtained by enlarging or targeting appropriate interventions for drug-using offenders. Accumulated research findings have demonstrated conclusively that treatment for drug use does work, and a growing body of evidence suggests that treatment is equally effective when imposed on drug-using criminal offenders by the criminal justice system. In this article, we suggest appropriate strategies for implementing treatment programs within criminal justice settings and for maximizing their chances of success.