Dr James Morgan, course leader for Criminology and Psychopathology MSc at London Metropolitan University, looks at the key findings of new statistics on reoffending
Date: July 9 2026
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities published new statistics on the impact of drug and alcohol treatment on reoffending today (July 9) – the largest ever to link the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Monitoring System with offending data.
One of the key results was that people who successfully complete treatment, or remain in treatment, were less likely (29 per cent) to reoffend than people who do not complete treatment (45 per cent).
James said: “A cause for optimism is that those who completed their treatment were less likely to be flagged for offences on the police national computer than those who did not complete their treatment.
“This dispels one possibility that those enrolled in treatment are often peaking in offending and would likely reign in their offences with or without treatment.
“There is good evidence of reductions in criminal behaviour for those in treatment, especially if they are not experiencing homelessness and are in employment.
“The best takeaway for policymakers is that drug treatment should be available for those who are ready to make changes to their lives, and should especially support people getting housed, moving away from the chaotic worlds of hostels and street life, while also supporting moves into employment.”
But he said that key questions remain: “Could this mean the connection is not as strong as it once was? Or reflect general downward trends in criminal behaviour, or a downward trend in the police’s ability to apprehend crime?"
Does this show treatment works?
Despite the findings, James said it is reasonable to question the impact of treatment.
“What if those who complete treatment and reduce their offending are simply more motivated than those who do not?
“The report also shows that those who have attempted treatment on a greater number of occasions are also more likely to reoffend, which says more about their needs and life circumstances, than whether treatment works.”
Pitfalls in the data
James also warned that there are issues in using arrest data as a proxy for offending as those who get arrested for their crimes might be a self-selecting group.
“A complementary approach to research would be to speak to people in drug treatment seeking self-reported offending.”
And he cautioned that the suggestions of a drop in offending among people enrolled in drug treatment could simply reflect a decline in enforcement.
Dr James Morgan is course leader for Criminology and Psychopathology MSc. His research interests include substance misuse, drug policy, and digital literacy. He is leader of the Substance Use and Addictions Group while also co-hosting and curating the Street Drugs Discussions series of webinars and symposia.