Florida Governor Ordered to Dismantle Unfair Voting Rights Restoration System
Gov. Rick Scott and his cabinet have been using an arbitrary system to decide when—and if—to restore Florida residents’ voting rights after they have been convicted and served time for a felony. This system has kept more than 10 percent of adult Floridians from being able to vote, and this largely includes those who were arrested on a felony charge of possession who are often individuals suffering from drug addictions. Once a person in this situation serves time, gets treatment, and gets clean, they can still be permanently barred from ever being able to vote again in the state.
On March 27, 2018, a judge ordered Gov. Scott to dismantle this system and replace it with something better by April 26. The judge’s decision comes on the heels of a grassroots campaign attempting to change this outdated law and to help those who have paid their debt to society or recovered from addiction after getting help.
Treatment Vs. Prison
More and more states, cities, and other areas in the U.S. are looking toward a focus on treatment rather than prison for those who are caught with illicit substances. In many cases, these individuals are addicts who will not receive the care they need if they are simply sent to prison.
Many people think that going through withdrawal cold turkey in a prison will scare a person into never using drugs again. The belief is that these individuals will remember the pain and suffering they went through by experiencing full-on withdrawal and that they will stay away from drugs in the future.
o This is actually untrue and ignores the main factor associated with addiction: the fact that it is, first and foremost, a disease.
o Even those who may not want to return to drug abuse after prison may still do so because they are not in control of their use.
o Those who withdraw will no longer be dependent on the drug, but they will still be addicted. It works similarly to the process of putting someone through detox but not following up with rehab treatment.
Prison not only fails to help the prisoner who is addicted to drugs, but it also costs the country more money than professional addiction treatment.
o According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a full year of methadone maintenance treatment would cost the country a little over $4,700 per patient. But a full year of imprisonment costs a whopping $24,000 per inmate.
In many ways, Florida as well as the entire country has a skewed view of addiction and what is necessary to help a person stop using. If we can work together to ensure that people receive treatment rather than prison time, more and more people will likely be able to achieve recovery and avoid recidivism, which would help our communities thrive overall.
Do You Need Help for Drug Addiction?
We are available 24 hours a day to help you find safe, effective detox and rehab centers near you. Just call 888-646-0635Who Answers? now to speak with a treatment advisor.
Although most people enter drug rehab to work on their drug addiction, it is important to recognize that your relationships are damaged by the drug addiction as well. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug abuse is extremely damaging to all relationships, particularly to those that are closest to you. Some of what….
Millions of people who drink alcohol never fall victim to the perils of alcohol addiction but those who do know firsthand the consequences and the dangers that come from this potentially fatal disease. Chronic alcohol abuse is often the first sign of alcohol addiction and, if left untreated, will often progress to a stage of physical….
Yoga is a healthful alternative treatment method that, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, has been found to “maintain… health and well-being, improve physical fitness, relieve stress… enhance quality of life,” lower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and relieve anxiety, depression, and insomnia. In addition, it can also be a major….
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, as of 2010, an estimated 2.7 percent of American adults reportedly use prescription drugs for recreational purposes. While prescription abuse has been around for a long time, this 2.7 percent estimate represents a 300 percent increase in rates within the last ten years alone. Prescription drug addictions….
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the therapeutic community is the “best-known residential treatment model,” although many individuals do not actually realize what it entails or know how long treatment even lasts. Treatment Lengths for the Therapeutic Community Model “Planned lengths of stay [for therapeutic community patients last] between 6 and 12 months.”….
Gambling addiction, also called pathological gambling, occurs when a person cannot resist the urge to gamble. In this sense, it becomes similar to a substance of abuse that causes compulsive, dangerous, and selfish actions, and in most cases, the person will not be able to stop until they receive help through professional rehabilitation treatment. Behavioral….
Fortunately for many addicted individuals who also suffer from financial issues as a result of their drug abuse, free rehab clinics do exist. These facilities are able to treat a person’s addiction without the need for them to spend the small amount of money they still have after the devastating effects of drug abuse. When….
Typically there are two types of rehab centers—inpatient rehab centers and outpatient rehab centers. Both facilities can assist with recovery from various types of addictions and conditions such as eating disorders or mental illness. So, how do you choose whether your treatment would be best facilitated in an inpatient rehab center or an outpatient rehab center?
Nearly every medicine cabinet in the US has some type of painkillers in it and some people even carry doses of painkillers with them in their pockets, bags or purses. Though millions of people take painkillers responsibly and do not suffer from addiction, millions of others have fallen victim to the physical and psychological strongholds….
Recovery is “A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential”, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Establishing a new “normal” to daily routines, avoiding high-risk situations that could lead to relapse, and staying motivated in….
