This is an academic paper that highlights that, even though the majority of those who are incarcerated have substance use disorders, there is little opportunity for treatment while incarcerated. As a solution to addiction, mass incarceration has only led to a larger population at higher risk during the coronavirus pandemic. Recommendations are made for criminal justice reform.
Zielinski, M.J., Hinton, K.E., Bull, C.E. (2020). COVID-19 highlights the pitfalls of reliance on the carceral system as a response to addiction. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2020.108190