Treating Drug Abuse and Addiction in the Criminal Justice System

TLDR

Addiction is increasingly recognized as a treatable brain disease, yet most people lack treatment, and criminal‑justice involvement often stems from drug‑seeking behavior linked to brain changes from repeated use. The study aims to show that treating drug‑involved offenders can reduce substance abuse and criminal behavior, leveraging emerging neuroscience to replace sanction‑based approaches with therapeutic strategies. The authors review neuroscientific evidence and evidence‑based addiction treatment principles that could be applied within the criminal‑justice system to improve public health and curb crime.

Abstract

Despite increasing evidence that addiction is a treatable disease of the brain, most individuals do not receive treatment. Involvement in the criminal justice system often results from illegal drug-seeking behavior and participation in illegal activities that reflect, in part, disrupted behavior ensuing from brain changes triggered by repeated drug use. Treating drug-involved offenders provides a unique opportunity to decrease substance abuse and reduce associated criminal behavior. Emerging neuroscience has the potential to transform traditional sanction-oriented public safety approaches by providing new therapeutic strategies against addiction that could be used in the criminal justice system. We summarize relevant neuroscientific findings and evidence-based principles of addiction treatment that, if implemented in the criminal justice system, could help improve public heath and reduce criminal behavior.