Factors Associated with Recovery Housing Availability for Individuals Involved in the Carceral System

Substance use and carceral system involvement are often connected, highlighting the need for services that support recovery from substance use disorders (SUD) among those leaving carceral facilities. Recovery housing offers both housing and recovery support. However, no prior study has examined whether recovery housing and carceral facilities are co-located. Using data from the National Study of Addiction and Treatment Recovery Residences (2020-2021, N=10,358), we examined availability of recovery housing proximate to carceral facilities. Results show that recovery residences are often collocated with state and federal prisons and detention centers in the US. Specifically, the odds of having any recovery housing are 74% higher and recovery housing density is 35% higher than in counties without state prisons (ps < 0.001). There were similar findings for federal prisons. Future studies involving individuals with SUD who are leaving state and federal carceral facilities should examine factors facilitating and inhibiting access to recovery housing as well as how recovery housing affects the communities in which they are located.