The effects of addiction on the brain and mind create an obsessive mindset that “naturally” leads to criminal type behaviors when drug supplies are lacking. Trends on drug abuse and crime reflect this pattern of behavior and account for a good percentage of the prison population in general.
It’s no secret how addiction takes over a person’s ability to choose, let alone distinguish right from wrong. In an effort to address the cyclic pattern of drugs and crime many states have implemented a drug court system designed to provide needed treatment help in the place of automatic incarceration.
Rehabilitation during incarceration also offer viable options for reducing crime rates and repeat offenses.
Under these conditions, rehab does hold some credence in terms of reducing crime by addressing the root of the problem rather than its resulting behaviors.
Trends on Drug Abuse & Crime
A large percentage of prisoners are serving for drug-related offenses.
Possessing large quantities of drugs, trafficking drugs and crimes committed in an effort to obtain money for drugs account for the majority of drug-related offenses committed.
According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, drug-related arrests exist as the largest crime category, with drugs accounting for an estimated 12.2 percent of 14 million arrests in 2008.
Not surprisingly, these patterns have resulted in over-crowding in correctional facilities across the nation, with 20 percent of all state prisoners and 53 percent of all federal prisoners serving time for drug-related offenses.
The drug court model offers offenders the option of entering drug rehab in the place of going to jail based on a person’s eligibility for treatment. Drug courts typically work with criminal offenders, juveniles, veterans and parents involved with the child welfare systems as well as other selected case types.
According to the National Institute of Justice, as of 2014, there are an estimated 3,000 drug courts operating within the United States.
The Need for Rehab Treatment
Addiction warps a person’s overall psychological makeup and breeds its own mindset, priorities and behaviors in his or her life. Whether a person is appearing in court or currently serving time, the need for rehab treatment help remains.
Referring a person to rehab as opposed to sending him or her to jail better addresses the problem at its root. Likewise, ensuring someone who’s just been released from jail has the necessary supports in place to reduce the likelihood of repeat offenses has a better chance of reducing crime and incarceration rates overall, according to the U. S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Considerations
If drug-related activities were simply a matter of evil intent or lack of moral character, incarceration may well be an effective means for curtailing these types of behaviors, but they’re not. The mechanism of addiction takes on a life of its own when left untreated regardless of whatever consequences may lie in wait.
For these reasons, drug court models and drug rehab in general offers a more productive approach to addressing today’s crime crisis.
If you or someone you know struggle with an addiction problem, and need help finding treatment that meets your needs, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 888-646-0635Who Answers? to speak with one of our addictions specialists.
Generally, alcoholics suffer great consequences as a result of their uncontrollable desire to drink. Cravings for alcohol are so strong that there’s simply no way to say no or to stop the pain without just one more drink. One drink leads to two and two leads to four, before you know it, the consequences of alcohol….
Walton, New York alcohol treatment center, The New Direction, provides an intensive inpatient alcohol treatment program that helps addicts recover from alcoholism and regain control of their lives. The New Direction has been providing patients with intensive inpatient alcohol treatment in Walton, New York since 1977. Founded on the philosophy that recovering addicts who are….
This is the first in a series of content that is set to fully detail and explain drug rehab, the steps of rehab, how it works, what to expect and how you will embark on a journey to recovery. Each individual recovery journey is slightly different but the means by which patients recover in drug rehab….
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, one of the best treatments for any type of addiction is therapy or counseling. Although honesty and trusting your therapist is a large part of counseling, there are some things that your therapist will not tell you. 1. Therapy is Hard Work Learning to live without the….
Are you wondering if a loved one needs alcohol rehab or if they just like to drink a little too much? Although alcohol rehab is not for everyone and it is not an absolute necessity for some people, there are some warning signs that you can learn to recognize that will help you to make….
Prescription drug abuse is widespread across all cultures, ages, and socioeconomic statuses most often beginning with the legitimate prescription from the family physician or the diversions of those prescriptions to others. Types of treatment for prescription drug abuse vary by facilities and service offerings. According to the NIDA,” Treatment must take into account the type….
Addiction is a lifelong illness. Many people go through recovery and seem fine but when they leave the program, they quickly relapse. This leaves them right back where they started. Up until recently, there were very few options for help after rehab. Rehab only teaches people the skills they need to live without the addiction,….
Exercise works to improve a range of bodily functions, heals emotionally and spiritually and helps individuals who are recovering from addiction to drugs or alcohol to start a new routine that is physically and emotionally beneficial. Today, most drug rehab centers incorporate some type of exercise program into their treatment programs to help strengthen the….
As seemingly normal and trendy as drinking has become, in 2008, alcohol addictions accounted for 41.4 percent of all drug treatment admissions, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. For some people the casual or occasional drink can soon turn into a once a day, twice a day and eventual all day habit. Alcohol….
When it comes to helping a loved one find an alcohol treatment center, there are many details that will come into play. Once you learn as much as possible about alcohol addiction, you will find yourself in position to provide your loved one with the help they need to get their life back on track…..
Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser that includes Right Path Rehab.
By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.
