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 The judge’s decision comes on the heels of a grassroots campaign attempting to change this outdated law and to help those who have paid their debt to society or recovered from addiction after getting help.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 some rehabs are religious, some of them are not. Many of the religious rehabs clearly advertise their religious affiliation in their name or the mission statements. These rehabs offer a clear religious connotation. There are however non-denominational rehabs do exist as do those with no religious affiliation at all. According to the National Institute….
Some addicts fail to recognize the severity of their substance abuse and the effects that it has on others. They tend to shift the blame when confronted, deny or hide the patterns of their abuse, and look for almost any way possible for not getting the help that they need. With the exception of legal….
Bath salts have become the newest family of drugs to hit the market. Classified as both “legal” and “illegal”, access to bath salts only requires users to know where to go to get them. As with any substance of abuse, bath salt addiction rates continue to rise as more and more people are exposed. As….
Various types of therapy are provided by rehab centers for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. The most common types of therapy include individual therapy, fitness therapy, group therapy and various specialty therapy sessions such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Some therapy sessions will also include the ability for family members to participate with the….
There are many types of rehab centers and almost anyone can benefit from one of those types. Rehab programs range from addiction treatment to rehabilitation for most mental and physical disorders. These benefits range depending on the specific type of rehab center you are entering. There are however some benefits that are common to all….
The aftereffects of emotional trauma can take any number of forms, affecting different people in different ways. Anyone who’s gone through a traumatic event or period well knows how jarring it can be emotionally and even physically. While it may seem like a person has recovered, signs of emotional trauma may still be apparent in….
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, relapse is a part of drug addiction. Although relapse does not necessarily mean failure, it is important to seek help when you feel as if you are going to relapse. There are ways that you can do this without disrupting your sobriety or your life. One way….
Alcohol addiction is a common problem that affects many more people than one may think. When you are addicted to alcohol you may feel like there’s no possible way for you to stop drinking but if you are willing to try then there is support available to help even those who have been addicted to….
Being pregnant is always a little scary, but when you’re addicted to drugs and alcohol and pregnant, it can feel overwhelming. You don’t want to hurt the baby, but there’s so much conflicting information out there, it can be hard to know what to do. With some states now passing laws that allow prosecution of….
Dual diagnosis is a term used to describe a situation in which an individual suffers from two distinct medical conditions at the same time. In most cases, when it comes to drug rehab a dual diagnosis is the result of an individual suffering from drug or alcohol addiction as well as a co-occurring mental disorder….
Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser: Recovery Helpline or Alli Addiction Services.
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.
