Evaluation of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Women in Residential Treatment for Substance Use Disorders following a Criminal Offense, K. Witkiewitz (PI).

Co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders are also a problem in United States prisons, particularly among women. It has been estimated that almost half (40.5%) of all female inmates have substance use and mental health disorders, with 66% of female inmates having a substance use disorder. Re-incarceration rates and re-offending are high among substance-involved offenders, particularly among those with co-occurring mental health disorders. Likewise, relapse to substance use is higher among individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders than those without a co-occurring diagnosis. Despite the grim statistics, it has been shown that providing evidence-based substance abuse and mental health treatment following incarceration or other criminal involvement leads to significant reductions in criminal re-offending and substance use relapse. The aim of this study is to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing the relative efficacy of two evidence-based substance abuse treatments, Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) and Relapse Prevention (RP), in the prevention of substance use relapse and criminal re-offending following intensive residential substance abuse treatment for women referred from the criminal justice system.