Laws Breed Drug Re-Offenders

(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Government laws intended to reduce drug use for convicted drug users may be doing the exact opposite of their intentions, according to a recent study at San Francisco State Universality.

Researchers at San Francisco State University held focus groups and semi-structured interviews with 17 women recently released from jail.

“Punitive drug and social policies … make it extremely difficult for users and former users to live a normal life and reintegrate into society,” lead study author Juliana van Olphen, assistant professor of health education at San Francisco State University, was quoted as saying.

The study is referring to policies such as the federal ban on food stamps for those convicted of a drug offense. Drug offenders are also prohibited from using public housing, according to the “one strike and you’re out” policy.

The study’s authors claim that the women are unable to reintegrate into society, placing blame on the government policies. The laws are limiting the convicted drug users' capability of supporting themselves drug-free in the future.

SOURCE: Published in BioMed Central’s open access journal, Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy

If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Melissa Medalie at mmedalie@ivanhoe.com