This systematic review examined policies comparing decriminalization and harm reduction with punitive approaches for drug use. The review did not report the specific studies or populations included, so the findings are based on a broad analysis of available evidence.
The main results show that decriminalization and harm reduction policies were consistently associated with reductions in drug-related arrests. In most analyzed contexts, there was no evidence of increases in violent or property crime. Punitive approaches showed limited or counterproductive effects on violence, recidivism, and racial disparities in arrests.
The review notes that broader crime outcomes can be context-dependent, and more comparative, context-sensitive research is needed. No specific safety concerns were reported, as the review focused on policy outcomes rather than individual treatments.
Readers should understand that this review shows associations, not causation, and the effects can vary by substance, population, and context. It suggests public health and harm reduction strategies may be more effective than punitive approaches in reducing criminal justice harms, but practice changes would require more specific evidence.