Probation is a form of criminal sentence enforcement developed to reduce the burden on correctional institutions and to reintegrate individuals into society. However, this process represents a restructuring phase in which freedom is defined within certain boundaries, and the individual is monitored and evaluated both by society and the probation system. For individuals with a history of substance use, this period can be particularly challenging, both physically and psychologically. Although supervision creates an external barrier to substance use, if it is implemented without resolving internal conflicts, individuals may attempt to obtain the prohibited substance through indirect means or develop new objects of addiction. This necessitates a reassessment not only of the supervision system but also of the individual’s psychological structure.
Psychological Effects of the Probation Process
The probation process has significant psychological effects on individuals. The constant feeling of being monitored may increase anxiety, paranoia, and feelings of worthlessness. The perception of a “stigmatized identity” can lead individuals to withdraw from social relationships and experience loneliness. In individuals with a history of substance use, control mechanisms may trigger feelings of guilt and shame, resulting in emotional withdrawal or increased use of defensive strategies (Kılıç & Erden, 2019).
The main psychological effects experienced by individuals during this process include high levels of anxiety and tension, chronic stress and sleep disorders, loneliness and social isolation, loss of self-esteem and identity confusion, depressive symptoms, and feelings of hopelessness. While trying to maintain a sense of freedom under supervision, the individual simultaneously struggles to distance themselves from their former object of addiction (i.e., substances). This duality can intensify internal conflicts.
Behaviors Related to the Search for Alternative Substances
Although regular testing within the probation system limits access to traditional drugs, it does not prevent individuals from seeking other substances that could serve as replacements. Synthetic drugs (e.g., “bonzai”, “spice”) or the misuse of prescription medications often come into play. In some cases, substance addiction is replaced by behavioral addictions such as gambling, risky sexual behavior, or compulsive internet use. These pursuits often stem from efforts to fill emotional voids, suppress internal tensions, or express repressed desires through alternative outlets.
Addiction and the Desire for the Forbidden: A Psychodynamic Perspective
Psychodynamic theory proposes that repressed drives within the individual’s psyche will inevitably resurface through alternative expressions (Freud, 1920/2011). The probation process suppresses the individual’s desires directly, leading to the development of new defense mechanisms. Denial, displacement, rationalization, and passive-aggressive behavior are frequently observed among these individuals.
Winnicott’s concept of the “false self” refers to external behaviors developed to adapt to authority, especially relevant during probation. The “true self” in this context is often repressed, isolated, and continues its pursuit of fulfillment. Substance use or alternative forms of addiction may become temporary stand-ins for this unmet need.
Societal and Systemic Dynamics
Probation presents not only personal challenges but also significant societal barriers. Difficulty finding employment, stigmatization, lack of family support, and a dismissive societal attitude can push individuals back toward substance use. Without psychosocial support, individuals may continue to use substances as a coping mechanism.
Unfortunately, current probation practices often fall short in understanding the individual’s psychological world. In addition to control and supervision, psychological support mechanisms must be integrated into the system.
Addiction, Trauma, and Attachment
Addiction is increasingly seen not only as a physiological habit but also as an attempt to fill deep psychological voids. Many individuals on probation have a history of childhood trauma, insecure attachment patterns, and chronic neglect. In particular, emotional neglect and the inability to form secure attachments with caregivers often lead individuals to try to fill these gaps later in life through objects of addiction.
From the perspective of attachment theory, many individuals with addictions exhibit avoidant or disorganized attachment patterns. These styles damage trust in both self and others, prompting individuals to seek temporary safety and satisfaction through external objects (e.g., substances, behaviors, risky relationships). While probation restricts access to these external sources, it often targets only surface-level change without addressing the internal void—thus making the search for alternative addictions more likely.
The Role and Necessity of the Therapeutic Process
Therapeutic interventions are one of the most critically missing elements within the probation system. Beyond surveillance, individuals must also be emotionally held, heard, and understood. Psychodynamic therapies offer an opportunity to explore internal conflicts, defense mechanisms, and the connections between past experiences and current patterns of addiction.
In particular, transference relationships allow for unconscious feelings toward authority figures, parents, or past caregivers to be examined through the therapeutic bond. In this setting, individuals can confront their dependency on substances in a nonjudgmental, safe space for the first time. Here, the therapist is not merely an expert, but a companion who supports the individual in reorganizing their inner world.
Integrating psychotherapeutic support into the probation system may not only promote individual well-being but also help break the broader societal cycle of crime. For individuals trapped in the triangle of crime, substance use, and isolation, rebuilding an internal structure begins not with monitoring, but with meaningful understanding.
Although probation appears to offer external freedom, for many, it marks the beginning of a new kind of internal imprisonment. Being monitored, controlled, stigmatized, and attempting to start over often leaves deep psychological scars. Substance use is often not just an addiction, but a symbol of unheard cries, unheld hands, and unseen suffering. The probation system must focus not only on law and discipline but also on the psychological integrity of the individual. Untreated trauma, abandoned souls, and unmet needs will always find new escape routes. The search for alternative substances is one such expression of this inner quest.
Substance use or criminal behavior is not merely a matter of willpower—it is often the result of broken attachments, fragmented identities, and a damaged sense of trust. Thus, the probation system must aim not only to control individuals, but also to build emotional bonds with them and provide a sense of safety. Psychotherapy is one of the most powerful means to create this space. In the therapeutic relationship, the individual is heard, understood, and emotionally held for perhaps the first time. This contact lays the foundation for restructuring, reconnecting, and becoming human again.
It must be remembered that every individual carries an internal capacity for healing. However, for this potential to emerge, it is essential to connect not just with behaviors, but also with emotions and personal narratives. If probation is structured with this understanding, it can help not only prevent crime, but also restore forgotten humanity.
Final Note
Behaviors related to substance use among individuals on probation must be considered not only as biological or legal problems, but as psychological structures. The supervision process may trigger trauma, defenses, and repressed needs. Therefore, psychological support and psychotherapy must be integrated into the probation process. Based on psychodynamic assessments, the individual’s defense mechanisms should be understood and appropriate intervention plans should be developed. Public awareness initiatives should be launched to reduce societal stigmatization. Assigned personnel should be trained in addiction psychology and behavioral addictions.
Only in this way can individuals reconnect not only with the social system, but also with their own inner wholeness.