A new study has found that drug offenders in Greece who are required by the courts to attend addiction treatment are more likely to complete their programmes than those who take part voluntarily. The findings shed light on how legal incentives can play a crucial role in supporting recovery and reducing the risk of reoffending. The findings were published in Psychreg Journal of Psychology.
Katerina Flora, PhD, lecturer in clinical psychology at the University of Western Macedonia, explained that “the purpose of the study was to present one of the most therapeutic-oriented legislative efforts in Greece concerning drug offences and substance dependence. Among its provisions is the use of a restrictive condition known as conditional dismissal, which allows individuals facing criminal charges or serving sentences to undergo addiction treatment as an alternative to incarceration.”
The research examined the impact of conditional dismissal, a legal measure introduced under Law 4139 of 2013. This allows people facing drug-related charges or serving sentences to enter rehabilitation instead of prison. If they meet the conditions, such as attending a recognised therapeutic programme, their sentence can be reduced or charges dropped.
Researchers analysed 515 cases of people who took part in the main treatment phase of the KETHEA EN DRASEI programme in Athens between 2006 and 2017. Of these, 120 were mandated to attend under judicial orders, while the rest joined voluntarily. The results showed that 36% of the court-mandated group graduated from the programme, compared with only 21% of the voluntary participants.
Dr Flora noted that the study focused on participants at the Welcoming Released Centre and compared “those who attended the programme as part of a court-imposed condition and those who entered without such legal obligations. The analysis evaluates outcomes such as treatment completion and dropout rates in order to determine whether conditional dismissal enhances engagement and retention in therapeutic settings.”
Dropout rates also differed significantly. Just 41% of those attending under legal conditions left the programme early, compared with 70% of those who enrolled without court involvement. This suggests that legal oversight can encourage participants to remain engaged through the often difficult stages of treatment.
KETHEA EN DRASEI works within prisons and community settings to help individuals overcome drug dependence and reintegrate into society. Its services range from therapeutic support inside detention centres to social reintegration programmes for those recently released. The approach focuses on education, vocational training, and psychosocial support to help participants rebuild their lives.
According to Dr Flora, “those entering treatment under a restrictive condition were more likely to complete the programme than those who joined voluntarily. This suggests that legal incentives may play a supportive role in promoting rehabilitation.” She added that the research also examines “wider implications for criminal justice policy, particularly in relation to how the Greek legal system is shifting from punitive measures toward therapeutic responses for drug-related offences.”
The study’s authors say the findings highlight the value of integrating health-based interventions into the criminal justice system. By treating addiction as a complex social and health issue rather than simply a crime, the law offers an alternative that benefits both individuals and society.
International comparisons show similar successes elsewhere. Drug treatment courts in the United States and rehabilitation-focused sentencing in several European countries have reduced reoffending and improved recovery rates. However, experts warn that the effectiveness of such measures depends heavily on the quality and consistency of treatment, as well as the cooperation between legal and health services.
Dr Flora stressed the importance of ongoing evaluation, noting that the study “provides valuable insight into the interaction between law and addiction recovery. It further highlights the importance of sustained policy evaluation to strengthen reintegration pathways and reduce the risk of relapse. Future plans include maintaining and strengthening efforts that promote treatment within the prison system. Additionally, it is important to highlight the specificities and needs of individuals who benefit from these programmes and the role of gender, parenthood, and previous experiences.”
While the results are promising, the researchers note that completion rates could still be improved. They recommend ongoing evaluation of the programme, as well as further investment in support during the transition from treatment to full reintegration. They also suggest that future studies should explore participants’ personal experiences to better understand the factors that influence their commitment to recovery.
The Greek government’s continued support for alternatives to prison for drug-related offences could help expand access to these programmes and strengthen their impact. With evidence showing that structured legal engagement can improve treatment outcomes, conditional dismissal may prove to be a model worth adopting more widely.
