Why Addiction Treatment Must Be Part of Reentry Planning

Every year, thousands of people leave jail or prison hoping for a fresh start. Many return home determined to rebuild relationships, find work, and move forward.

But for individuals living with substance use disorder, the transition back into the community can be one of the most dangerous moments in their lives.

Without access to treatment and support, the path forward can quickly lead back to the same cycle of addiction, arrest, and incarceration.

According to Newtown Police Chief Tom Synan, addressing addiction during reentry isn’t just compassionate—it’s essential.

“There’s a higher chance of recidivism,” Chief Synan explains, “and it’s an uphill battle for someone leaving the system if they’re not connected to treatment and support.”

The Cycle of Addiction and Incarceration

For many people struggling with addiction, involvement with the criminal justice system begins with decisions driven by desperation—not intent.

Adam, whose story is featured in BrightView’s documentary Addiction Ultimatum: Jail, Death, Recovery, remembers how addiction shaped the events that led to his first arrest.

“I had a car full of people who were sick,” he recalls. “We had been ripped off by a drug dealer, and I was panicking trying to get out of town.”

He was arrested for stealing gas while trying to escape the situation.

But jail alone didn’t change the underlying addiction.

“I did 30 days in jail,” Adam says. “But it didn’t change me. I just met people inside, and the day I got out we went and got high.”

His story reflects a reality seen across the country: incarceration without treatment rarely addresses the root cause of addiction.

Why Housing and Jobs Aren’t Enough

Many reentry programs focus on housing, employment, or transportation. Those supports are critical, but they are not enough if addiction itself goes untreated.

Chief Synan points to efforts like Hamilton County, Ohio’s reentry programs, which focus on connecting individuals with the resources they need.

“We learned you have to have a person connected to that individual when they get out,” he says. “Support makes the difference.”

That support may include case management, counseling, and medication treatment for addiction.

When these systems work together, the impact extends beyond the individual.

“When someone succeeds,” Synan says, “our community succeeds and heals.”

The Medical Reality of Addiction

Addiction is not simply a behavioral problem,problem; it is a medical condition that changes how the brain functions.

Frank Chilli, a medical provider with BrightView Health, explains that prolonged opioid use alters how opioid receptors respond to the drug.

“When someone stops using opioids during incarceration, their tolerance begins to decline—often within days or weeks,” he says.

That change can make relapse extremely dangerous.

“If someone returns to opioid use at the same dose they previously used, the risk of overdose is significantly higher. This is why the days immediately following release are considered one of the most dangerous periods for people with opioid addiction.”

Medication for opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine or methadone, helps stabilize the brain, reduce cravings, and lower the risk of overdose.

Maintaining access to those medications during the transition from incarceration to community care is critical.

“Continuity of treatment significantly improves the chances that someone stays engaged in recovery,” Chilli explains.

What Effective Reentry Looks Like

Successful reentry planning includes more than a release date.

Experts say the most effective programs begin connecting individuals to treatment before they leave incarceration.

A strong clinical handoff often includes:

• Scheduling treatment appointments prior to release
• Coordinating with community treatment providers
• Providing a bridge supply of medication when appropriate
• Ensuring transportation and case management support

These steps help ensure that treatment continues during one of the most vulnerable periods in recovery.

A Community Effort

Over the past decade, communities across the country have begun changing how they respond to addiction and criminal justice involvement.

In the Cincinnati region, Synan says collaboration has been key.

“We asked the community to change the way it views addiction,” he says. “And they did.”

Local coalitions that once included a small group of advocates have grown to include hundreds of organizations working together to connect people to care.

Those partnerships are helping reduce overdose deaths, expand treatment access, and support people in rebuilding their lives.

A Second Chance

Reentry planning isn’t just about preventing crime. It’s about saving lives.

When people leaving incarceration have access to treatment, recovery support, and community resources, the cycle of addiction and incarceration can be broken.

For Adam, recovery came one day at a time.

“I just tried it for one day,” he says. “And that day turned into two days… and then two weeks.”

Today he reflects on the life he nearly lost to addiction.

“Anyone can have a redemption story,” he says.

With the right support, reentry can become the beginning of that story.