Substance use relapse prevention is critical to preventing contact with the criminal justice system, given the evidence demonstrated within follow-up period associations between relapse and arrest, a recent study found. Researchers analyzed data from 5,822 adults who participated in the Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment Outcome Research (CATOR) system. This prospective longitudinal research design included 0 to 6, 6 to 12, 12 to 18, and 18 to 24 month follow-up data. They found:

• Relapse was associated with posttreatment arrest within the observed follow-up period, but did not significantly influence the likelihood of arrest in future follow-up periods.

• In comparison, posttreatment arrest in the 6 to 12 month follow-up period had lasting effects for relapse to substance use in the 12 to 18 and 18 to 24 month periods.

• Arrest in the 0 to 6 month posttreatment period was also associated with increased risk for relapse in the 18 to 24 month period.

Citation: Kopak AM, Haugh S, Hoffmann NG. The entanglement between relapse and posttreatment criminal justice involvement. [Published online ahead of print July 20, 2016]. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. doi:10.1080/00952990.2016.1198798.