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Alcohol and drug rehabilitation treatment works as part of the jail diversion program initiative enacted by the court systems. These programs are offered through drug courts, so if there’s a drug court in your area, there’s a good chance the jail diversion program option is available to you. In order to qualify as a program candidate, you must meet certain requirements.

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Drug Rehab Instead of Prison Could Save Billions

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Drug Rehab Instead of Prison Could Save Billions

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How is it possible that spending money on treatment will save money? Like any investment in a worthy cause, the return on investing in mental health and recovery wellness will increase over the years. Consider the following

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The debate about the efficacy of drug courts has been waged for the past decade, and now one more study has landed solidly in the "pro" column.

Research has found that sending offenders with a history of drug and alcohol abuse to addiction treatment programs rather than institutionalizing them in jail or prison is not only the humanitarian choice but it will cut crime rates and save billions of dollars. ¹

In a time when the federal government has a debt in the trillions, it seems unethical to ignore the benefits and cost savings of helping people get the medical care they need rather than incarceration that will only worsen everyone's problems.

How Does Rehab Save Money?

How is it possible that spending money on treatment will save money? Like any investment in a worthy cause, the return on investing in mental health and recovery wellness will increase over the years. Consider the following:

Initial drug treatment is less expensive than incarceration.

Costs related to incarceration are cut because people who are in recovery are less likely to commit expensive crimes or be arrested again.

Because long-term health of each individual will be improved, the cost of healthcare for uninsured patients will be drastically reduced.

Costs of law enforcement and court costs will be cut when crime rates drop and fewer arrests occur.

If only 10 percent of drug-addicted offenders received drug rehabilitation instead of jail time, the criminal justice system would save $4.8 billion compared to current costs. ¹ If 40 percent of addicted offenders received treatment instead of jail, those savings would rise to $12.9 billion. ¹

Jason's Story

"I realized that it was only a matter of time until big prison sentences would come my way," writes Jason of his experience with drug addiction.
"I knew that game had come to an end. The last time I spent in jail, I looked at the people in there around me and thought, 'Look at them; they all keep coming around here over and over. What a miserable way to live.' Then I realized that they were probably saying the same about me...Today I have 15 years of continuous sobriety. I go to 3-5 meetings in a 12-Step fellowship each week and also host one meeting per week at my home."
- Read Jason's story and more at www.HeroesInRecovery.com

How Does Rehab Save Your Personal Money?

Treatment for addiction doesn't just save money for communities. Looking at the big picture of recovery also saves money for individuals and families.

No matter how expensive treatment is, it's nothing compared to the costs that add up over years of drug addiction, including:

Medical care and health costs for overdose, accidental injury under the influence, and chronic illness caused by drug use

Bail, court costs, lawyer fees, and other legal fees caused by drug-related arrest

Lost productivity due to active addiction, including a lowered ability to work and bring in money

Cost of supporting someone who is unable to support themselves

Cost of supporting any children born to the addicted person

Cost of long-term health complications due to substance use, that often appear later in life if a person manages to avoid overdose or immediate illness

It is estimated that about half of all people who are incarcerated are there at least in part due to an active drug or alcohol problem, yet only about 10 percent of them receive the drug rehabilitation they need to heal while they are behind bars. ²

When drug offenders are released, they often immediately return to active drug abuse and within days, weeks, or months find themselves again in front of a judge and returning to jail for the same or similar crimes.

Find Help for Substance Use Today

Are you ready to help yourself or your loved one get into a drug rehab program and begin a better life? Call our free, confidential 24/7 hotline at 877-345-3357 to speak to an admissions coordinator who can help you find the right treatment center for you or your loved one.
Sources
¹ Zarkin, G., Cowell, A., Hicks, K., et.al. Lifetime Benefits and Costs of Diverting Substance-Abusing Offenders from State Prison. Sage Journals. 1 Aug 2015.

² Replacing Prison Terms with Drug Abuse Treatment Could Save Billions in Criminal Justice Costs. Newswise. 2013.

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Drug Rehab Instead of Prison Could Save Billions | Dual Diagnosis

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The debate about the efficacy of drug courts has been waged for the past decade, and now one more study has landed solidly in the "pro" column. Research has found that sending offenders with a history of drug and alcohol abuse to addiction treatment programs rather than institutionalizing them in jail or prison is not only the ...

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A weakened immune system, increasing the risk of illness and infection

Heart conditions ranging from abnormal heart rates to heart attacks and collapsed veins and blood vessel infections from injected drugs

Nausea and abdominal pain, which can also lead to changes in appetite and weight loss

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There are a few ways a person can take drugs, including injection, inhalation and ingestion. The effects of the drug on the body can depend on how the drug is delivered. For example, the injection of drugs directly into the bloodstream has an immediate impact, while ingestion has a delayed effect. But all misused drugs affect the brain.

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Drugs are chemicals that affect the body and brain. Different drugs can have different effects. Some effects of drugs include health consequences that are long-lasting and permanent. They can even continue after a person has stopped taking the substance.

There are a few ways a person can take drugs, including injection, inhalation and ingestion. The effects of the drug on the body can depend on how the drug is delivered. For example, the injection of drugs directly into the bloodstream has an immediate impact, while ingestion has a delayed effect. But all misused drugs affect the brain. They cause large amounts of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate our emotions, motivation and feelings of pleasure, to flood the brain and produce a "high." Eventually, drugs can change how the brain works and interfere with a person's ability to make choices, leading to intense cravings and compulsive drug use. Over time, this behavior can turn into a substance dependency, or drug addiction.

Today, more than 7 million people suffer from an illicit drug disorder, and one in four deaths results from illicit drug use. In fact, more deaths, illnesses and disabilities are associated with drug abuse than any other preventable health condition. People suffering from drug and alcohol addiction also have a higher risk of unintentional injuries, accidents and domestic violence incidents.

The good news is: Substance use disorders are treatable.

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Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction | Gateway Foundation

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Drugs are chemicals that affect the brain, body, behavior and health. There are many different types of drugs available on the market making drug abuse more prevalent. Gateway Foundation offers treatment for those struggling with addiction. Find a program that is right for you.

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“The amount of times drugs were found in prisons across England and Wales rose by 23% in one year, Ministry of Justice figures reveal…”

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"More than 46,850 self-harm incidents were recorded in the year to March 2018, up by 16 per cent on the previous year, with self-harm now recorded on average 128 times a day."

"Violent incidents meanwhile rose to 31,025, up 16 per cent, and of which 9,003 were assaults on staff - a figure that has soared by more than a quarter (26 per cent) in the 12 months to March."

The Independent, 26 July 2018

"The amount of times drugs were found in prisons across England and Wales rose by 23% in one year, Ministry of Justice figures reveal..."

"The figures for the year between March 2017 and March 2018 also reveal that 20.4% of drug tests came back as positive."

Sky News, 26 July 2018

Assaults of all types and self-harm incidents are up in prisons, as are positive drug tests, and the number of times drugs have been found.

There were just under 83,000 people in prisons in England and Wales at the start of August 2018.

More drugs are being found

The Ministry of Justice aims to randomly drug test 5% or 10% of prisoners in each prison every month.

Around 54,400 tests were administered in 2017/18. 11% of the results proved positive for "traditional drugs", like cannabis, opiates, cocaine and methadone.

Positive tests for traditional drugs have risen slightly from 9% in 2016/17. This latest year had the highest proportion of positive results since 2004/5 when 11.8% were positive.

If you include positive results for psychoactive substances, like 'Spice', 20% of them were positive.

This is the first year the psychoactive test results have been published so we can't compare that 20% figure over time. The most common positive test result in 2017/18 was for psychoactive substances- 60% of positive samples contained them. Second was cannabis, at 28%. Some test results were positive for multiple substances.

The random drug tests are mandatory-although a prisoner can refuse to take it and face a disciplinary procedure. Failing the test is a disciplinary offence, which could mean a longer sentence.

The number of times drugs have been found in prisons has increased over the last five years.

There were 13,100 incidents where drugs were found in prisons in 2017/18, up 23% on the year before when there were around 10,700. That figure's been increasing since 2012/13 when drugs were found just under 4,300 times.

Psychoactive substances were also the type of drug found most often.

Assaults of all types are up

There were 31,000 assault incidents in prisons and state-run immigration removal centres in the year to March 2018. 22,400 of these were prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and 9,000 were assaults on staff.

There were 364 total assaults per thousand prisoners in 2017/18. That's roughly the same as the number per thousand male prisoners, though for women (who make up about 5% of the prison population) it's slightly lower.

There were 46 per thousand prisoners, of what the Ministry of Justice classes as "serious assaults". This includes sexual assault, anything that results in being an inpatient at a hospital, concussion and other specific types of injury like broken noses and lost teeth.

For prisoner-on-prisoner assaults, there were 262 per thousand, and 106 assaults on staff per thousand prisoners.

The Ministry of Justice changed how assaults were recorded in April 2017. It said this simplified how incidents involving staff are identified but it "is possible this has increased the recording of incidents".

Self-harm rates are at their highest in ten years

There were 46,900 incidents of self-harm recorded in prisons in England and Wales in 2017/18, up 16% on the year before. Per day, that works out as 128 incidents. This is the highest it's been over the last ten years, when this data series began.

Self-harm is defined as "any act where a prisoner deliberately harms themselves, irrespective of the method, intent or severity of any injury". The figures may include some but not necessarily all attempts at suicide.

There were around 11,900 "self-harming individuals" in prisons overall.

Again, looking at incidents per thousand there were 549 incidents of self-harm per thousand prisoners in 2017/18 in prisons overall.

Female prisoners have long been more likely to self-harm, and more often than those in male prisoners. There were 467 self-harm incidents per thousand male prisoners in 2017/18. For women, this figures was just over 2,200. There were 308 self-harming women per thousand female prisoners in 2017/18.

Isn't it nice to have the whole picture?

We rely on your donations to continue and grow our factchecking efforts - to help us maintain our independence we need 1000 donors to give £10 a month. We are currently at 607 - please help Full Fact grow.

By Grace Rahman

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"More than 46,850 self-harm incidents were recorded in the year to March 2018, up by 16 per cent on the previous year, with self-harm now recorded on average 128 times a day."

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Should drug addicts be taken to prison instead of going to Rehab 

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Should drug addicts be taken to prison instead of going to Rehab 

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this is Joe's experience with drug abuse  

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this is Joe's experience with drug abuse  

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If Joe is lucky enough to get an early release within three years, one of the conditions of his release involves staying out of trouble and reporting to his parole officer on a weekly basis. As Joe has spent three years in the company of criminals, it may be more difficult for him to function as a productive citizen within the community on his own.

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Rehabs.com is the comprehensive guide to addiction treatment and information.

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The Relationship Between Addiction and Criminal Behavior

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The Relationship Between Addiction and Criminal Behavior

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Addiction causes changes in behavior. These changes become harder to ignore as addiction progresses. They may begin with changes in appearance or demeanor at first. They become more pronounced over time. Individuals become increasingly likely to commit crimes as the disease worsens.

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Addiction is a disease, not a crime. While having an addiction won't land you in prison, a lot of the consequences of drug use and abuse can. So, although people with addiction aren't incarcerated simply for having this disease, there's a high percentage of inmates who struggle with addiction and need treatment.

How Are We Addressing Addiction?

Addiction in prisons is an untreated problem, and it's a growing one. More people in the general population struggle with addiction, and more of these individuals find themselves involved in crimes that lead to arrest.

And this is happening despite research and evidence suggesting that incarcerating people who suffer from addiction is actually more harmful than helpful.

The Relationship Between Addiction and Criminal Behavior

Addiction causes changes in behavior. These changes become harder to ignore as addiction progresses. They may begin with changes in appearance or demeanor at first. They become more pronounced over time. Individuals become increasingly likely to commit crimes as the disease worsens.

Addiction affects individual behavior. It also influences national crime facts and statistics. About one out of every hundred citizens is currently incarcerated. The United States incarcerates more people per capita than any other developed nation. The effects of substance abuse may be one of the may reasons why. ¹

Out of all the crimes committed in the US, about 80 percent of those that lead to incarceration involve alcohol or drugs. Sixty percent of all people arrested for any crime test positive for at least one illicit substance at the time of their arrest. So, these statistics beg the questions: Why are there so many crimes being committed by addicted offenders? What are these crimes? Is incarceration the answer?

3 Types of Crimes Committed by Addicted Offenders

According to a study, crimes committed by addicts can be broken down into three distinct types.

These types are distinguished by what motivates the crime and include the following:

1. Use-related: These occur as a result of being heavily intoxicated. In instances of use-related crimes, it's common for the individual with addiction to not realize they're committing the crime as it's occurring.

2. Economic-related: These crimes are committed as a means of funding a substance abuse habit. They may include prostitution and theft.

3. System-related: These are a response to the legal system and include production, transportation and selling of illicit substances.²

Understanding why addicted individuals are committing crimes helps decide whether or not incarceration is the next best course of action. The penal system exists so that individuals who commit crimes are punished accordingly. This is why the systemic response is to try, convict and incarcerate an offender, addicted or not. However, there are a couple key problems with imprisoning those who struggle with addiction.

Problems with Incarcerating Addicted Offenders

The first problem with incarcerating addicted offenders is that incarceration does not prevent addicts from further abuse of alcohol and drugs.

Approximately 95 percent of incarcerated addicts will return to substance abuse after their release from prison. 60 to 80 percent of them will commit new crimes. ³ Others will become addicted while in prison due to access to smuggled drugs. This is because while incarceration may address the crime, it doesn't address the underlying issues. It doesn't treat the disease that contributes to criminal behavior.

Approximately 65 percent of prison inmates in the US meet the diagnostic criteria for addiction. Only 11 percent of those individuals receive any form of treatment.

There's also the question of safety regarding withdrawal in prison. Although withdrawal doesn't always put an addicted individual in danger, it can put a person's health or even his or her life in jeopardy. There have been a number of reports of individuals dying from severe withdrawal while in prison. ⁴ Despite the dangers of detoxing without medical supervision, offenders struggling with addiction are regularly imprisoned and then ignored.

Finding a Solution for Addicted Offenders

Of each tax dollar spent by the government on substance abuse, only 1.9 cents are used for addiction prevention and treatment. At the same time, 95.6 cents are allocated to the punitive system. ⁵ Without treatment that addresses the real issues, offenders often end up caught in a cycle of substance abuse, crime and incarceration. One potential solution is to give addicted offenders the option to complete a rehabilitation program in lieu of a prison sentence.

This is the goal of the drug courts that have emerged in many jurisdictions throughout the US. 6 Additionally effective rehabilitation programs could be offered in prisons to help offenders struggling with addiction get sober and stay sober upon release. Better understanding of and access to treatment before incarceration happens would also greatly reduce the number of addicted individuals finding their way into the judicial system.

Getting Help

Addiction doesn't have to lead to incarceration. Dealing with addiction can feel lonely and isolating, but when you reach out for help, you're never alone. If you or a loved one would like more information about detoxification, intervention or addiction treatment options, call 855-317-8377 and speak with one of our experienced, knowledgeable admissions coordinators.
Sources
¹ " The Facts on Drugs and Crime in America." National Association of Drug Court Professionals. Accessed 15 May 2018.

² " Alcohol, Drug and Crime." National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. 27 Jun. 2015.

³ " Treatment or Incarceration?" Justice Policy Institute. Jan. 2004.

⁴ Burns, Gus. " FBI Investigating Inmate's Death from Drug Withdrawal in Macombe County Jail." MLive. 30 Sep. 2015.

⁵ Sack, David. " We Can't Afford to Ignore Drug Addiction in Prison." The Washington Post. 14 Aug. 2014.

⁶ " Drug Courts Work." National Association of Drug Court Professionals. Accessed 26 May 2018.
Written by Dane O'Leary

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Why Imprisonment Is More Harm Than Help to Addicted Offenders | Skywood Recovery

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Anyone who had the misfortune of developing an addiction before the advent of modern substance abuse treatment was typically relegated to prison or an insane asylum, which was intended to force him or her into sobriety.

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This website gives a percentage of opinions

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This website gives a percentage of opinions

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Should drug addicts go to rehab instead of prison

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Debate.org is a dynamic social community where you can voice your opinion on today's hottest issues.

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Has Addiction Stolen a Loved One From You? Call (877) 640-1943 for help getting them back.

The addiction to drugs is a difficult thing for any individual to deal with. Often, addiction leads to the decline of a person's well-being, financial security, and health. Drug addicts have a hard time keeping a job, their families suffer the consequences, and sometimes the addicts find themselves either in trouble with the law, or homeless on the street.

The issue of treating drug abusers has been discussed in great detail in our country for decades. There are those that say we should buckle down on drug users and increase our illegal drug enforcement in order to put all those drug-using criminals behind bars. However, those that just want to lock up every drug addict are ignoring the fact that drug addiction is a sickness, and without proper treatment, the user will find themselves back on the streets using drugs once they are out of jail.
New help for drug addicts

Immediate Help Available 24/7 100% Free & Confidential 877-640-1943

The idea of treatment vs. jail is one that has come up numerous times in the last few months, as our country struggles with the best way to get drug addicts back on their feet again. New York has recently relaxed laws that date back to the 1970s in order to allow judges to send addict law-breakers to treatment programs, rather than to jail.

Other states and countries are looking into different options also. In Australia, where 70-80% of prisoners are incarcerated because of drug problems, community-based treatment centers are now being offered to those that have served time because of drug related crimes.

Texas is taking a hard look at what they can do to help those with drug addiction that have found themselves chronically homeless, or caught in the cycle of going to jail for drug possession, then back to being homeless and doing drugs, and so on. One of their answers is to solve the housing problem, and then get these people into drug treatment, rather than send them straight to jail.
Cost effective treatment
Overall, it would save states money to focus on fixing the underlying problem of drug addiction, rather than try to manage drug addicts with jail time. If we look at the cost for the court system, law enforcement, jail time, and emergency health care and shelter for those that go right back to drug abuse once they are out of jail; the cost of simply putting a drug addict in jail really adds up.

On the other hand, if a drug addict is sent to a treatment facility where they can get the help they need to overcome drug addiction, the individual stands a chance to get back out into the world and contribute in a positive way to society. In New York's estimation, sending those convicted of nonviolent drug crimes to treatment rather than jail will save the state a quarter of a billion dollars a year. Financially in the long run, and for the benefit of the addict, it seems addiction treatment rather than jail is the way to go.
Sources
NY eases drug laws, sees annual savings of $250 mln Mar 27, 2009
Popple, Garth Rehab, not jail, best for drug abuse March 28, 2009
Pulkkinen, Levi Change in D.C. stirs state drug policy debate March 26, 2009

Has Addiction Stolen a Loved One From You? Call for help getting them back. 877-640-1943

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The addiction to drugs is a difficult thing for any individual to deal with. Often, addiction leads to the decline of a person's well-being, financial security, and health. Drug addicts have a hard time keeping a job, their families suffer the consequences, and sometimes the addicts find themselves either in trouble with the law, or [...]