One challenge that hinders the effective re-entry of offenders of drug and substance abuse in the community is the poor management of stress by the victims. For instance, when former addicts are in the period or process of recovering from the use of drugs and substance, we expect them to undergo depression and stress. Correction programs often fail to make adequate provisions for managing stress during this period.
When the offenders fail to have full control over stress and depression during this period, there is a likelihood of such victims relapsing back to drug and substance abuse (Latessa, 2011). The other challenge that may affect effective re-entry in the community is the perception that communities create towards people who are former offenders. For instance, it is difficult for a former drug and substance abuser to fit in society and feel part of the community even after the reform program. An effective re-entry plan must include a program that educates the community on the need to accept and embrace the fact that people can change and be vital to the community. The re-entry plan should, therefore, involve education and sensitization programs in the community, employers, schools, families.
These social units should learn to accept the offenders back as part of the society (Latessa, 2011). The re-entry plan should also constitute effective treatment services that offer attention to ways of managing stress during the rehabilitation period. Stress management is one of the challenges that hinder effective re-entry by offenders. Thus, setting up a working formula for managing stress among victims of drug and substance abuse will help in improving the efficiency of correction measures.
Employers should also put former addicts of drugs and substance on probation programs for a certain period that will depend on the level of addiction of an individual (Latessa, 2011).
