Work

The impact of a voluntary alcohol and other drug diversion program on reoffending, imprisonment, and health

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • MERIT participants offend approximately 21 per cent less often than comparison group participants at 12 months (IRR: 0.793. CI: 0.748–0.841) and 13 per cent less often at the 24 months mark (IRR: 0.870. CI: 0.829–0.912). • At the conclusion of criminal proceedings participants in the MERIT program were significantly less likely to receive a prison sentence (OR: 0.728. CI: 0.674–0.787). • Participants in the MERIT program were less likely to die from any cause in the two years after referral than participants in the comparison group (HR: 0.674. CI: 0.502 - 0.904). The Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment (MERIT) program is a voluntary, pre-plea diversion program for defendants appearing in the New South Wales (NSW), Australia, Local Court who have issues related to their alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. Matched treatment and comparison groups were created using propensity score matching. The outcomes examined were AOD-related hospital admissions, AOD-related Emergency Department (ED) admissions, ED admissions (general), hospital admission (general), ambulance callouts, AOD related deaths, and deaths from any cause, as well as reoffending and imprisonment. Differences between outcomes were analysed using Cox regression (health outcomes), negative binomial regression (reoffending) and logistic regression (imprisonment). Survival times for participants in the MERIT program were significantly shorter for all health outcomes except one (death). At the 12-month mark, MERIT participants offended 21 per cent less frequently than comparison group participants (IRR: 0.793. CI: 0.748–0.841). This gap increased to 27 per cent after 24 months (IRR: 0.870. CI: 0.829–0.912). At the conclusion of criminal proceedings participants in the MERIT program were significantly less likely to receive a prison sentence (OR: 0.728. CI: 0.674–0.787) or to die (OR: 0.674. CI: 0.502–0.904) The Magistrates’ Early Referral Into Treatment Program appears to be an effective way of reducing the short-term risk of re-offending, imprisonment, and death.

Source: International Journal of Drug Policy

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104747