Obstacles to successful rehabilitation and resettlement of drug use offenders

Purpose – This preliminary small-scale research aimed to achieve an insight into drug use offenders’ rehabilitation experiences both in and out of prison, as well as considering how perceptions of the public may inhibit their successful reintegration into society. Design/methodology/approach – A mixed-methods approach was usedutilised, with five semi-structured interviews being conducted and alongside the distribution of the Attitudes Toward Prisoners questionnaire (Melvin et al., 1985) among the general public (n= 106) in the North-West region of England. Findings – Participants recalled a mixture of experiences, highlighting the presence of contraband in prisons to be an inhibiting factor of successful rehabilitation. Additionally, participants expressed the need for more support when preparing for release such as confirmation of accommodation and possible employment. Questionnaires also indicated the public to perceive offenders negatively (M= 76, SD= 16.99), thus presenting a further challenge in the resettlement of drug use offenders. Practical Implications – Findings highlight that improving practices to decrease the presence of contraband in prisons, monitoring an individual’s use of methadone, preparing an individual for their release from prison, and educating the public, would reduce some of the obstacles experienced by drug use offenders. Originality – This study outlines some of the obstacles that drug use offenders experience when attempting to end their drug use activity and criminal engagement