What Affects Reintegration of Female Drug Users After Prison Release? Results of a European Follow-Up Study

The main objective of this follow-up study is to explore factors influencing the success or failure of women in reintegrating after their release from prison. Female drug users in five European cities were tracked after being released from prison. Out of 234 female prisoners contacted in prisons, 59 were included in the follow-up study. Structured questionnaires were given out and statistical group comparisons were conducted. The authors found that receiving preparation for release significantly supports a successful reintegration. On the other hand, living with a current drug user and initiating regular heroin use at an early age of less than 18 years are major barriers to successful reintegration.