New Framework Aims to Understand and Improve Social Supports for Individuals with SUD and Justice Involvement

A review article in SSM - Mental Health introduces a new classification system for social support programs for individuals with substance use disorder, criminal justice involvement, and related health issues. The authors developed this system based on the source of support, categorizing interventions by whether the support agents are internal (family), external (health and social service providers), or a combination. By examining studies funded by the NIH and NIDA, the review analyzes existing social support approaches within this framework. The authors emphasize the need for future research to assess these interventions in a practical application, effectiveness, and broader applicability of these interventions while also stressing the significance of supporting those who provide the social support.

The article was co-authored by a multidisciplinary team of researchers and practitioners, including Drs. John Schneider and Harold Pollack with the University of Chicago, Dr. Faye Taxman of George Mason University, Jessica Hulsey of the Addiction Policy Forum, and Dr. Peter Friedmann of the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School–Baystate. Together, the team brought diverse expertise across public health, clinical care, research, and policy to build a practical and inclusive taxonomy of support.

This research contributes to growing efforts to better understand and scale evidence-based support systems for people navigating addiction, legal system involvement, and complex health needs. By bridging the gap between science and service, the taxonomy provides a tool for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to design more responsive and effective support programs.

Reference:

John A. Schneider, Lindsay R. Smith, Alida M. Bouris, Carrie Oser, Mai Tuyet Pho, Basmattee Boodram, Silvia Minardi, Esbeidy Torres Hondal, Jonathan Ozik, Bruce G. Taylor, Nina T. Harawa, Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar, Danielle S. Rudes, Russell A. Brewer, Anna L. Hotton, Carrie Pettus, Harold A. Pollack, Faye S. Taxman, Jessica Hulsey,

A taxonomy of social support interventions for People experiencing a syndemic of substance use disorder, criminal legal involvement, and downstream Health sequelae,

SSM - Mental Health, Volume 7, 2025, 100428, ISSN 2666-5603, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100428.