Correlates of Alleviating Social Exclusion Among Participants in Deferred Prosecution Programs for Drug Offenses: Evidence in Taiwan

Background: This study aims to examine the interrelationships among factors facilitating recovery and their impact on social exclusion among individuals enrolled in deferred prosecution programs for drug offenses. Despite the efforts of deferred prosecution programs to prevent deepening social exclusion due to imprisonment, systemic barriers to accessing public resources persist. Since 2017, Taiwan has implemented tailored public services to address health, social integration, and family support for participants in these programs. Yet, gaps remain in understanding their effectiveness in mitigating social exclusion in current research. Acknowledging the multifaceted nature of social exclusion, this study examines the factors of alleviating social exclusion among drug users in deferred prosecution programs.

Methods: Primary data were collected from 115 individuals aged 20 and above enrolled in the deferred prosecution programs for drug offenses from four units of the local District Attorney's Office, using reliable and valid structural scales. Hierarchical regression analysis explored the relationships between social exclusion and explanatory variables (personal recovery capital, family support, social adaptation, and public resource accessibility), controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors (age, gender, education, employment, marital, financial standing, income level, and health).

Results: Social exclusion exhibited a negative correlation with personal recovery capital, family support, social adaptation, and public resource accessibility (p<.05). Personal recovery capital (ß= -.409, p<.05), family support (ß= -.183, p<.001), and social adaptation (ß= -.559, p<.001) emerged as predictors of social exclusion (R²=.443, p<.000). The results suggested that enhancing personal recovery capital, family support, and social adaptation could serve as effective strategies for mitigating social exclusion. After controlling for the effects of the three variables, and among the various types (social, medical, and labor) of public resources examined, only social (ß= -.257, p<.05) and medical (ß= .228, p<.05) resources significantly predicted social exclusion (R²=.494, p<.000), whereas labor resources were non-significant. It might appear counterintuitive that individuals with more medical resources were more likely to experience social exclusion, possibly due to stigma associated with seeking medical assistance for drug-related issues. Meanwhile, the inclusion of public resources also decreased the predictive power of family support.

Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of promoting personal recovery capital, family support, and social adaptation to mitigate social exclusion among individuals in deferred prosecution programs. While labor resources are not associated with social exclusion, this may stem from the premature disengagement of individuals undergoing deferred prosecution from the labor market. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the association between medical and labor resources and their impact on social exclusion. Exploring the different effects of various types of public resources highlights the need for tailored interventions and elucidates the intricate societal dynamics surrounding drug-related issues. This study offers valuable insights into Taiwan's medical system and other countries with similar programs, emphasizing evidence-based recommendations for effective intervention strategies and policies to address social exclusion among vulnerable populations. This study shows that multi-dimensional efforts implemented at the personal, family, and program levels would create a synergy in mitigating social exclusion among marginalized drug users in legal systems.