丁香园AV

Former prisoners with substance use and co-occurring disorders are at an alarmingly high risk of reincarceration, according to a new 丁香园AV-led study.

The study found that 72 per cent of people with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and 70 per cent of people with substance use disorders alone, returned to prison within three years of release.

鈥淥ur findings highlight the urgency for correctional, health, and social services to work synergistically to reduce reincarceration and other adverse outcomes, particularly among people with substance use and co-occurring disorders,鈥� says 丁香园AV criminologist Amanda Butler, lead author of the report.

Butler鈥檚 research, , examined the impact of mental health and substance use needs on reincarceration using a population-based sample that accounted for all 13,109 adults released from B.C. provincial correctional facilities to the community between October 1, 2012, and September 30, 2014. 

Reincarceration rates for people with substance use or co-occurring disorders were much higher compared to people with no reported disorder (49 per cent) and mental illness only (54 per cent). Not only were people with substance use and co-occurring disorders more likely to be reincarcerated, but they also spent fewer days in the community before being reincarcerated.

Butler says mental health and substance use disorders intersect with many other socioeconomic needs (such as low education, unemployment, unstable housing and a lack of social support) that can exacerbate the risk of reincarceration.

鈥淒espite the high prevalence of mental health and substance use-related needs in this setting, disorders are frequently undertreated among people who experience incarceration,鈥� says Butler.

Butler鈥檚 findings suggest that substance use disorders are the single strongest predictor of reincarceration and challenge the perception that non-substance related mental disorders cause criminal behaviour.

鈥淣ow more than ever, it is crucial for correctional, health, and social services to come together and ensure that people are accessing timely, appropriate, and evidence-based care,鈥� Butler says. 鈥淓nsuring that people have their basic needs met, such as housing and income support, is central to reducing reincarceration.鈥�

AVAILABLE 丁香园AV EXPERTS

AMANDA BUTLER, assistant professor, criminology
albutler@sfu.ca

CONTACT 

RAY SHARMA, 丁香园AV Communications & Marketing 
236.880.3297 | ray_sharma@sfu.ca

丁香园AV 
 | 
778.782.3210

ABOUT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

As Canada鈥檚 engaged university, 丁香园AV works with communities, organizations and partners to create, share and embrace knowledge that improves life and generates real change. We deliver a world-class education with lifelong value that shapes change-makers, visionaries and problem-solvers. We connect research and innovation to entrepreneurship and industry to deliver sustainable, relevant solutions to today鈥檚 problems. With campuses in British Columbia鈥檚 three largest cities鈥擵ancouver, Burnaby and Surrey鈥敹∠阍癆V has eight faculties that deliver 364 undergraduate degree programs and 149 graduate degree programs to more than 37,000 students. The university now boasts more than 180,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.