5 Ways Prosecuting Attorneys and Public Defenders Can Use Public Health Data and Resources to Address Substance Use Disorders

The relationship between prosecuting attorneys and public defenders is adversarial in nature. However, due to the rise of problem-solving courts and the use of multi-disciplinary teams, this relationship has become less adversarial. Most common are the multi-disciplinary teams found in juvenile and family drug treatment courts, where teams work together to target the needs of youth and families that require effective substance use treatment. Attorneys can sometimes find themselves being assigned to serve on a drug court team, as a representative of their respective agencies, without a lot of information or training regarding substance use. The lack of training is somewhat problematic for already established multi-disciplinary teams that are now responsible for training new attorneys about the prevalence of substance use, harm reduction, effective treatment and medication, etc. Therefore, it is important for leadership, in both prosecuting attorney and public defender offices, to understand the scope of the substance use problem in their communities. Ultimately, understanding the data and treatment available for substance use disorders (SUDs), locally and nationally, can help attorneys argue for the most appropriate outcomes. In this technical assistance bulletin are five ways attorneys can use public health data and other resources, to improve their ability to work on multi-disciplinary teams and improve their understanding of substance use by youth and families involved in the juvenile and family court systems.