Substance Abuse Treatment: An Alternative to Prison By Heather Apo-Ewers Communications 1010 November 10, 2013

Introduction to the world of substance abuse  Substance abuse has been diagnosed as a brain disorder in the DSM IV (Diagnostic Statistics Manual)  6,000,000 people have been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder in the United States  The ripple effect of drug addiction is said to affect more than 23,000,000 people nationwide  Abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is costly to our Nation, exacting over $600 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and healthcare.** This number includes crime, productivity, health care, and lost work (NIDA)  *NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Incarceration can not be only answer to the “War on Drugs”  85% of all inmates currently incarcerated have been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder – most of these are non-violent offenders  In Salt Lake County alone, there are roughly 8,000 people waiting on the list.  88,251 adults in Utah admit to needing treatment. Current max capacity for treatment centers is 14,934

Stigmas and Myths Attached to Drug Addiction  “Studies of clinical populations suffering from severe, prolonged addictions—and the selective media coverage of these populations—create a pessimistic portrayal of the prospects for long- term recovery” (“Recovery/Remission from Substance Abuse Disorders,”William White, MA  Myths regarding addicts create barrier to long lasting recovery, Ex: all addicts are weak willed/lazy/unintelligent

Outcomes of Substance Abuse Treatment  In an analysis of 276 addiction treatment follow-up studies of adult clinical samples, the average remission/recovery rate across all studies was 47.6% (50.3% in studies published since2000).  Studies of clinical populations suffering from severe, prolonged addictions—and the selective media coverage of these populations— create a pessimistic portrayal of the prospects for long-term recovery A study of residential drug treatment within federal prisons showed that inmates who completed the program were 73% less likely to be rearrested than those who had not completed it. (“Prison and Beyond: A Stigma that Never Fades,” The Economist)

Costs of substance abuse vs. incarceration  For every $1 invested in addiction treatment programs there is a return of $4 to $7 in reduced drug-related crime, correction costs, and thefts Between 1973 and 2009 the nation’s prison population grew by 705%, costing taxpayers about $52 billion in prison expansion  Its costs the state of Utah $97,000 a year to incarcerate a single parent with two children, it costs 18,000 a year for treatment for the same parent

Programs to Integrate Drug Addicts into Society  DORA: Drug Offender Reform Act-brought to the state in For repeat offenders with substance abuse disorders  Drug Court: An effective alternative to sending offenders to jail and/or prisons. This program integrates the consequence and rewards system to develop personal accountability and help addicts create a productive lifestyle conducive to being a part of society rather than a detriment  Self Help Programs: AA, NA, HA, and other programs such as these are reported to have millions of members living life successfully all over the world

Social Responsibility: Integrating Recovery into Our Community  Recovery is influenced by personal and family factors and by broader historical, cultural, political, and economic influences. Recovery prevalence is shaped as much by community recovery capital as by personal recovery capital.(William White, MA) The purpose of prison systems is not to rehabilitate an addict but rather to keep society safe from harm.  When treatment is successful the recidivism rate goes down along with the crime rate-thus preventing harm to society

Recovery and how it affects the community  “Providing alcohol and drug abuse treatment instead of jail is one of the surest ways to put drug-dependent adults on the path to recovery and to prevent juveniles with problems from becoming adult criminals (Charles Curie, SAMHSA)  Give people choices along with accountability, give them an opportunity to live a better life and to become a productive citizen that gives back to their community-this will not only lower crime rates but also save hundreds of millions of dollars spent annually on drug related issues

 If we teach a man or woman how to live in recovery, we have a man or woman that succeeds in life and gives back to a society they once only took from. If not, we will perpetuate what has grown to be an almost overwhelming crisis the world over Conclusion: The Option of a Better Life and How That Affects All of Us