ABSTRACT
Introduction: For adults involved with the criminal justice system who are reentering their communities post-incarceration, there is a large need for community-based substance use treatment. Little is known, however, about the types, availability, and benefits of programs targeting the reentry population in community settings that operate independently from the criminal justice system. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of community-based treatment programs for substance use among reentering justice-involved adults to examine the contemporary state of literature and identify research gaps. We searched four databases for peer-reviewed articles conducted in the United States and published between 2017 and 2021. Results: The final sample included 58 articles. Interventions varied, but the two most prominent were medications for opioid use disorder (35%) and peer support or social support interventions (22.4%). Studies were more likely to show positive impact on substance use outcomes than criminal justice outcomes. Themes were identified around participant characteristics, treatment delivery, and treatment benefits. Conclusions: Findings from this scoping review suggest that the range of evidence-based strategies for substance use treatment targeting the reentry population is growing, but there is a need for additional research that examines implementation, cost effectiveness, and racial/ethnic disparities.
ABSTRACT
Substance use among criminal justice-involved adults is a significant concern for the rehabilitation and reintegration into their communities. Few have examined broader associations with substance use among those in probation or parole (community supervision) using an assessment of risks and needs with a representative sample. Using an assessment based on risk-need-responsivity principles, this research applies negative binomial analyses to examine sociodemographic, criminal, and other problem-area correlates of substance use risks and needs among a statewide dataset of adults in community supervision. Results indicated that mental health risk/need was the strongest predictor of substance use risk/need. Other risk areas, including criminal thinking, employment/education, and the presence of delinquent associates (peers/family) were associated with substance use. Implications highlight the ongoing call to develop integrated models of care that treat co-occurring disorders among adults in supervision. Additionally, diversion-oriented efforts that prevent adults with complex treatment needs from reentering the justice system are discussed.
ABSTRACT
Purpose of Review: Policy implications from changes in recreational cannabis laws (RCLs) have raised public health concerns. While numerous studies have examined the impact of RCLs on cannabis use, there is less research on the risk of developing cannabis use disorder (CUD). This review summarizes the latest research on the effects of RCLs on CUD prevalence and cannabis treatment admissions. Recent Findings: Nine studies were published between 2016 - 2022 that examined RCLs and CUD or treatment. Findings generally indicate an increase in CUD prevalence associated with legalization, but effects differ by age group. There was no significant association between legalization and CUD treatment admissions, and CUD admissions decreased overall during the study periods. Summary: To improve policy, prevention, and treatment services, policymakers should monitor RCLs' effects on adverse public health outcomes and researchers should consider the effects on individual and community-level characteristics. We discuss methodological challenges in conducting state-level research and provide suggestions for future studies.
ABSTRACT
Background: Efforts to improve treatment for adults with major depression (MD) and childhood maltreatment (CM) have identified inflammation as a potential target to improve health. Network models have emerged as a new way to understand the relationship between depressive symptoms and inflammation. However, none have accounted for the role of childhood maltreatment in the link between depressive symptoms and inflammation, or sex differences commonly found in these constructs. Methods: Data from two waves of the Midlife Development in the United States study were used in this study (N = 1917). The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and six inflammation markers served as nodes in an undirected psychometric network analysis. Edges between nodes were calculated using partial Spearman's correlation. Separate networks were modeled for males and females. Results: The total network revealed several associations between nodes of CM, MD, and inflammation, with emotional abuse having a strong association with somatic complaints. Network comparison testing revealed male-female network invariance, with several edge differences between male and female networks. Males and females showed differences in associations across inflammatory markers and depressive symptom clusters, particularly among somatic complaints and interpersonal difficulties. Conclusions: Specific associations between dimensions of inflammation, CM, and MD may represent important targets for treatment. Network models disaggregated by sex showed that males and females may have fundamentally different associations between these constructs, suggesting that future studies should consider sex-specific interventions.
ABSTRACT
Based on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotion, this article suggests that efforts by social workers to find joy in the profession may help them broaden their scope of attention, cognition, and action; build physical, intellectual, and social resources for future use; and increase resilience. This article explains Fredrickson's broaden-and-build theory as a basis for exploring and seeking positivity and outlines several practical strategies that social workers or their leaders can adopt to promote joy and other positive emotions. The strategies can be implemented at individual or group levels in classrooms or agencies. Finally, this article considers how these strategies may contribute to social worker self-care, self-awareness, and ongoing growth and development.
