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Heroin maintenance treatment (HAT) to reduce criminal activity
Summary of the evidence
Heroin-assisted-treatment (HAT) effects on criminal activity were evaluated in a systematic review with meta-analysis (Smart and Reuter, 2022, 10 RCTs, N= 2 427). Results found:
- significantly reduced criminal activity among HAT participants,
- four trials found significantly larger reductions for HAT compared to control condition [median odds ratios (ORs) = 0.45].
- Reductions in crime are concentrated in drug-related and property offenses (ORs range from 0.14 to 0.90 and from 0.12 to 1.89, respectively).