Examines two types of interventions:

Draws out common themes from the research and suggests implications for policy and future research.

The review was commissioned by the Home Office to provide further information on the connection between drug misuse and criminal behaviour and methods for tackling it. This report is Home Office Online Report 26/05.

The researchers used vigorous search strategies to identify evaluations of the effectiveness of drug treatment meeting the strict criteria for inclusion in the review.

Overall, the results of the various analyses conducted were positive. The results of the meta-analysis showed that, when viewed in combination, drug treatment programmes are effective. The odds of a reduction in criminal behaviour were 41% higher among the experimental groups (those that had undertaken treatment intervention of interest) than in the comparison groups (the non-treatment group or comparison intervention).

Additionally, the results of the quantitative review showed that 44 of 52 studies found that the programme was effective in reducing crime on at least one measure. The results show that some interventions are more effective than others, although some of the difference may relate to the quality and intensity of the programme.

Research Development and Statistics Directorate, Home Office
Phone: +44 870 000 1585
public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

01/01/2005

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Katy Holloway, Trevor Bennett and David Farrington

research

Urban Policy > Security & crime prevention > Anti-crime policy

Drug crime