Rehab halves chances of committing crime

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by Change | 17 Nov 2008

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Rehab treatment reduces the risk of former addicts committing crimes, new research suggests.

drug addiction victims currently undergoing substance recovery programs are involved in fewer crimes, new research suggests.

Offences typically committed by this demographic, such as theft, fell by almost half once an individual begins to undergo rehab therapy, Manchester University's National Drug Evidence Centre (NDEC) suggests.

Matching data on former opiate addicts and those who used to engage in crack abuse from the Police National Computer and the National drug treatment Monitoring System revealed the findings.

A sample of 1,500 people who were caught and ordered to undergo substance recovery programs in the community, rather than in jail, were studied.

Tim Hollis, lead on drugs from the Association of Chief Police Officers and chief constable of Yorkshire and Humberside, claims the UK government's current drug strategy is a "well-balanced approach to reducing the overall harm".

He states: "I am delighted to see objective evidence that … drug treatment [is] contributing to a reduction in crime and thus a reduction in the harm caused to local neighbourhoods."

Those being treated for drug addiction are also less likely to commit crimes such as violent acts, possession, prostitution and fraud.

NDEC is an organisation which undertakes evaluative, epidemiological and policy-related research into the subject of drug abuse.

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