Evaluation of the Outcomes and Influencing Factors of Non-Custodial Educational Programmes for Drug Abusers

Abstract This study evaluated the effectiveness of deferred prosecution (DP) and probation, defined as non-custodial education programmes (NCEPs), for drug abusers in South Korea. We analysed participants’ questionnaire responses in the DP (N = 203) and probation (N = 254) groups over a two-year period (January 2022–December 2023). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare pre-and post-programme questionnaires on knowledge of drug addiction and the Hanil Drug Insight Scale (HDIS) for participants in DP and probation. Using multivariate logistic analysis, we examined the factors influencing effectiveness, including previous treatment experience, Meaning of Life Questionnaire (MLQ) scores, and mental health status. NCEP effectiveness was assessed based on the participants’ reported intentions for future treatment at the end of the NCEP. DP participants and probationers showed significant increases in their knowledge of drug addiction and HDIS scores (p 0.001). Results showed that treatment experience (odds ratio OR 3.73, 95% confidence interval CI 1.30–10.71), poor mental health (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.01–5.95), and good MLQ (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.50–5.63) were significantly associated with improved NCEP effectiveness. This study provides the first evidence of the beneficial outcomes of the NCEP and identifies the factors influencing its effectiveness.