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Treating Drug Abuse and Addiction in the Criminal Justice System

2009; American Medical Association; Volume: 301; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1001/jama.2008.976

1538-3598

Redonna K. Chandler, Bennett W. Fletcher, Nora D. Volkow,

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study

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.