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Drug Treatment Costs Far Less Than Prison
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Published: March 7, 2008
There are now almost 7 million adults in our country's criminal justice system, including over 2 million persons incarcerated in jails and prisons.
Well over half of these individuals have significant substance abuse problems. The costs associated with building new jails and prisons to house those with drug addiction are enormous - $20,000 to $23,000 per year for each person incarcerated.
We simply can't afford to continue the pace of new jail and prison construction without considering more effective alternatives. We know that substance abuse treatment can be highly effective in breaking the cycle of drug-related crime and incarceration. Research provides strong and compelling evidence that treatment reduces criminal recidivism, drug use, family violence, unemployment and welfare dependence among criminal justice populations. Cost savings can be enormous. For example, savings in reduced drug-related crime as a result of substance abuse treatment amount to $4 to $7 for every dollar spent. Yet the vast majority of persons who need drug treatment in our criminal justice system never receive these services.
In the face of state revenue shortfalls in Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist has shown a willingness to examine new solutions to reduce the cycle of drugs and crime. The governor's budget proposes $29 million to revitalize substance abuse treatment in prisons and for those under justice supervision in the community. For the first time in Florida's history, this initiative provides an opportunity to provide "treatment on demand" for non-violent offenders with addiction problems
A federally funded study conducted by the Research Triangle Institute revealed that more than 90 percent of persons completing treatment while supervised or incarcerated by the Florida Department of Corrections did not commit a crime in the two-year follow-up. Studies like this one indicate that the governor's new initiative will save approximately $1.2 billion over the next five years.
We believe that this is a sound strategy that is long overdue, and that makes dollars and "sense" for all of our citizens. All Floridians will benefit from this change, and so many families can be helped by treating substance abuse as the disease it truly is, rather than by trying to lock the problem away in jails and prisons that we can't afford.
Roger H. Peters, Ph.D., is chairman of the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida. Mary Lynn Ulrey, M.S., ARNP, is CEO of the Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordina
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( wwood ) on March 7, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I agree with this 100%. My son is in and out of jail due to drugs, bad friend influences, alcohol and has 2 children out of wedlock. He can not see his kids and he is depressed due his inability to do anything about it. His license is suspendid. He also has add, he had when he was a child. During his young school year i had him under doctor care. AGe 13 he refused to take meds and now i believe he does these drugs just to feel better. THey make him feel social and not so depressed. i dont know what to do. He is going to court Thursday on violatiom of probabition he was caught with two xanax in his pocket walking home from work late one night.
He had a backache and a girl at work gave him the pills and he put them in his pocket and now he has a felony.
He is only 21 years old.
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Posted by ( sam5684 ) on May 19, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
As the number of people addicted to drugs and alcohols is increasing day-by-day, there is need for some good drug rehab centers that would provide high quality treatment at a reasonable price. Moreover, it should give discount to people having low income.
http://www.drugrehabscenters.com/
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