OBJECTIVE: The authors examine the possible adverse consequences of incarceration on drug offenders, their families, and their communities. OBSERVATIONS: State and federal policies on drug felons may affect eight elements of personal and community well-being: children and families, access to health benefits, access to housing benefits, access to assistance for higher education, immigration status, employment, eligibility to vote, and drug use or recidivism. CONCLUSIONS: Minorities have a high chance of felony conviction and an increasing lack of access to resources, suggesting that patterns of drug conviction and health disparities may be mutually reinforcing. Large numbers of people sent to prison for drug offenses are now completing their terms and reentering communities. Their reentry will disproportionately affect minority communities. Without resources (education, job opportunities, insurance, health care, housing, and the right to vote) drug abusers face a higher risk of recidivism and increase the burden on their communities.
OBJECTIVE: The authors examine the possible adverse consequences of incarceration on drug offenders, their families, and their communities. OBSERVATIONS: State and federal policies on drug felons may affect eight elements of personal and community well-being: children and families, access to health benefits, access to housing benefits, access to assistance for higher education, immigration status, employment, eligibility to vote, and drug use or recidivism. CONCLUSIONS: Minorities have a high chance of felony conviction and an increasing lack of access to resources, suggesting that patterns of drug conviction and health disparities may be mutually reinforcing. Large numbers of people sent to prison for drug offenses are now completing their terms and reentering communities. Their reentry will disproportionately affect minority communities. Without resources (education, job opportunities, insurance, health care, housing, and the right to vote) drug abusers face a higher risk of recidivism and increase the burden on their communities.
Authors: Scott Burris; Kim M Blankenship; Martin Donoghoe; Susan Sherman; Jon S Vernick; Patricia Case; Zita Lazzarini; Stephen Koester Journal: Milbank Q Date: 2004 Impact factor: 4.911
Authors: Ingrid A Binswanger; Marc F Stern; Richard A Deyo; Patrick J Heagerty; Allen Cheadle; Joann G Elmore; Thomas D Koepsell Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2007-01-11 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Melissa R Schick; Nicole H Weiss; Ateka C Contractor; Emmanuel D Thomas; Nichea S Spillane Journal: Subst Use Misuse Date: 2020-02-20 Impact factor: 2.164
Authors: Laurel A Copeland; Alexander L Miller; Deborah E Welsh; John F McCarthy; John E Zeber; Amy M Kilbourne Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2009-03-19 Impact factor: 9.308