The role of co-occurring disorders in criminal recidivism and psychiatric recovery among adults with opioid use disorder and criminal-legal involvement: A statewide retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) in the criminal-legal system commonly present co-occurring mental health disorders. However, evidence-based treatment for high-risk populations such as those with co-occurring disorders is often unavailable within jails and prisons. Coordination of timely and affordable access to behavioral health treatment following incarceration is critical to address the multidimensional needs of people with co-occurring needs. However, the role of co-occurring disorders among adults with OUD and criminal-legal involvement who are accessing community-based treatment is understudied.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study investigated community and recovery outcomes among 2039 adults with OUD and criminal-legal involvement enrolled in a statewide forensic treatment initiative between October 2015 to March 2018. Using court records and clinical data, we assessed the impact of co-occurring OUD and mental health disorders on criminal recidivism and psychiatric recovery and the moderating role of co-occurring disorders on the relationship between community-based treatment and these outcomes.

Results: We found that 47 % of those with OUD also had an underlying mental health disorder. Co-occurring OUD and mental health disorders predicted higher rates of recidivism during the early stages of treatment. Furthermore, group and individual therapy services were associated with lower odds of recidivism. A co-occurring disorder was an important predictor of more severe behavioral health needs when exiting community-based services and did moderate the relationship between service utilization-specifically group therapy and substance use outpatient services-and psychiatric recovery (i.e., behavioral health needs at exit).

Conclusions: Co-occurring mental health disorders are highly prevalent among adults with OUD who have criminal-legal involvement, but it appears that they can benefit from social support services in the community. Given the multidimensional needs of this high-risk population, criminal-legal stakeholders and community-based clinicians must work in tandem to develop tailored treatment plans that give individuals with co-occurring OUD and mental health disorders the best chance for success post-incarceration rather than a siloed approach to overlapping disorders.