title: The impact of drug treatment courts on recovery: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Earlier reviews regarding the effectiveness of Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs) reported a reduction in reoffending and substance use. Although substance users suffer from other difficulties than drug use and judicial issues, none of these reviews focused on outcomes or effects of DTCs on drug-related life domains, such as social relationships, employment, or health. Therefor, the present paper aims to review the impact of adult DTCs on substance use and drug-related life domains.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary studies were systematically searched in Web of Knowledge. Observational and controlled evaluation studies of adult DTCs were considered eligible if substance use and/or drug-related life domains were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Moderately positive results were found with respect to within-program substance use. Few studies used drug-related life domains as an outcome measure and most of them yielded no effects. Employment and family relations ameliorated when specific interventions were used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DTCs yield beneficial outcomes and effects regarding within-program substance use. However, evidence regarding the impact of DTCs on post-program drug and alcohol use and on other drug-related life domains is scarce. These life domains and thus QoL possibly can be improved by DTCs if specifically targeted. Future research is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Penal Law and Criminology, Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP), Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. ciska.wittouck@ugent.be
authors.forename: Ciska
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wittouck
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dekkers
authors.forename: Brice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Ruyver
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vanderplasschen
authors.forename: Freya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vander Laenen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055030:Drug Users / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D037141:Mandatory Programs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult