Archive for the ‘Alcohol’ Category

The most obvious sign is your personal appearance and your surroundings. When people have fallen into alcoholism or drug addiction, getting the drink or the drug becomes the most important thing in their lives. It’s more important than food, sleep, school, work, relationships, family members or any other number of responsibilities that go with daily life. Recognizing you need drug rehab may start with a look in the mirror. Again, it’s typically others who will recognize when you need drug rehab before you do. Alcoholism and drug addiction carry the major symptom of denial, which makes it difficult to see how much the drink or the drug is taking over your life. Loss of interest in normal activities and hobbies, falling off in school or work performance, changing your friends (lower companions), changes in appetite and appearance all indicate a personality change brought on by alcohol or drug addiction.
What to Do When You Recognize a Need for Drug Rehab
Read the rest of this entry »

Hawaii has one of the nation’s highest rates of alcohol addiction but ranks as the state with the least drug dependence, according to a federal government survey released yesterday.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration www.samhsa.gov

More than four out of 100 people over 12 years old in Hawaii are addicted to alcohol, says the study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, an agency within the U.S. Health and Human Services Department.
That puts Hawaii ahead of only Montana and the District of Columbia, and worse than the national average of 3.4 per 100 people.

For more information about or help with Alcoholism and to break the addiction cycle phone Michael Larroque at 866-515-5032 or visit hawaiiislandrecovery.com.

What Is Alcohol Abuse

What are drinking problems? How serious is alcohol abuse among young people? What is the trend in drunk driving? What help is available for alcoholism?
To some college students, heavy drinking that leads to vomiting is not alcohol abuse but simply having a good time and being “one of the gang.”
To many whose religion requires abstinence, simply tasting an alcohol beverage is not only alcohol abuse but a sin.
To many activists, a married couple quietly enjoying a drink with their dinner is guilty of abusing alcohol if they happen to be twenty years of age.
To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an accident is alcohol related (and implicitly caused by alcohol abuse) if a driver who has consumed a drink is sitting at a red light and rear-ended by an inattentive teetotaler.
In American Society
Our historical background and multi cultural population have created wide and strong disagreements in American society over what constitutes alcohol abuse.
Our Colonial tradition taught us that alcohol is the “good gift of God” to be used and enjoyed by all, including small children.
Our temperance and Prohibition experiences taught us that alcohol is “demon rum,” the cause of almost all poverty, crime, violence, and other problems. So convinced were they that alcohol was the cause of virtually all crime that, on the eve of Prohibition, some towns went so far as to sell their jails. Temperance systematically promoted both fear and hostility toward alcohol beverages, much of which continues to this day.
Repeal of Prohibition left us with a society in which the majority of people enjoy alcohol beverage in moderation, but a large minority (today about 1/3) of the population abstains. And a substantial proportion of American abstainers favor imposing prohibition again on the entire population . The prohibition impulse has never died and has re-emerged in a different form today.
Alcohol policy actually results not from science, logic, or evidence, but from a continuing struggle between those who wish to use alcohol beverages and those who don’t want them to. Repeatedly throughout our national life, movements have emerged to promote abstinence by persuasion, but failing to succeed, they have then resorted to coercion. The current neo-prohibition movement attempts to reduce consumption in general and to prevent it entirely among targeted groups, such as those under the age of 21.

And Young People
Prohibition for those under the age of 21 currently enjoys wide support in the United States and is imposed by force of law. Often it is enforced with a vengeance. “Carter Loar, a senior at Park View High School in Loudoun County, Virginia was suspended for ten days in February for violating the school’s alcohol policy.” Carter’s violation was using mouthwash at school. School officials confiscated the contraband and “He was charged with violating the school’s alcohol policy which prohibits the possession or use of alcohol on school property. As part of his ten day suspension, Carter was required to attend a three day Substance Abuse Program sponsored by Loudoun County.”
Mr. Loar was a victim of “zero tolerance,” which is now all the rage. But what does such a zealous level of intolerance accomplish and what messages does it send our young people? It probably achieves about as much as the scare tactics characteristic of the temperance movement and is almost certainly counter-productive.
One apparent message is that those who promote such intolerance have lost touch with youth, another is that they are unrealistic and impractical, and another is that their alcohol education messages are not credible.
Youthful Drinking
While a continuing barrage of newspaper articles, TV shows, and special interest group reports claim that drinking among young people is a growing epidemic, the fact is quite the contrary. Drinking among young people, like drinking among the larger population, is actually on the decline. For example, look at the statistics on drinking among high school students.
The proportion of high school seniors who have ever consumed alcohol is down.
The proportion of high school seniors who have consumed alcohol within previous year is down.
The proportion of high school seniors who have consumed alcohol within previous 30 days is down.
The proportion of high school seniors who have recently consumed alcohol daily is down.
The proportion of high school seniors who have consumed 5 or more drinks on an occasion within previous two weeks is down.
Drinking among young people continues to drop. For example, the proportion of young people aged 12 through 17 who have consumed any alcohol during the previous month has plummeted from 50% in 1979 to 16% in 2006, according to the federal government’s annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Thus, while one in two were drinkers in 1979, significantly fewer than one in five were in 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available. College student drinking attracts much attention in the press. But the proportion of college freshmen who drink continues to decrease. Freshmen entering college in 2006 reported the lowest rates of drinking in the 41-year history of the national college Freshman Survey. The proportion reporting occasional or frequent beer drinking dropped to an historic low, down 43% since 1982.
Drunk Driving Fatalities
While we must do even more to reduce drunk driving, we have already accomplished a great deal. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities have dropped steadily.
The U.S. has a low traffic fatality rate (drunk, as well as sober) and is a very safe nation in which to drive. And it’s been getting safer for decades. There are now fewer than one and a half deaths (including the deaths of bicyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, auto drivers, and auto passengers) per one hundred million vehicle miles traveled. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities have dropped from 60% of all traffic deaths in 1982 down to 39% in 2005 (the most recent year for which such statistics are available).
Alcohol-related traffic fatalities per vehicle miles driven has also dropped dramatically — from 1.64 deaths per 100 million miles traveled in 1982 down to 0.56 in 2005 (the latest year for which such statistics are available).
The proportion of alcohol-related crash fatalities has fallen 35% since 1982, but the proportion of traffic deaths NOT associated with alcohol have jumped 53% during the same time. We’re winning the battle against alcohol-related traffic fatalities, but losing the fight against traffic deaths that are not alcohol-related.
The declining proportion of accidents involving intoxication is good news. However, we can do even more to reduce drunk driving deaths. Through our individual actions we can do much right now to protect ourselves and others.
Health Problems
While the moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with better health and longer life than is abstinence, the heavy consumption of alcohol, especially over a period of many years, can lead to serious health problems and even death.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is an irreversible condition associated with excessive consumption of alcohol by pregnant women and is, therefore, completely preventable. Each and every case of FAS is a needless tragedy. Victims suffer serious physical deformities and often mental deficiencies. And, they suffer these problems for their entire lives. While most cases occur among alcoholics who consume alcohol heavily throughout their pregnancies (usually in combination with smoking and often illegal drug use), no one knows for certain what level of alcohol consumption is safe for a pregnant woman.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recently conducted a study including 400,000 American women, all of whom had consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Not a single case of FAS occurred and no adverse effects on children were found when consumption was under 8.5 drinks per week. While it would appear that moderate consumption is safe, the safer choice would be to abstain.
Of course, tobacco and illegal drugs are clearly to be avoided, and a pregnant woman should maintain good nutrition and see her physician on a regular basis throughout her pregnancy.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is probably the most widely recognized medical complication of chronic alcoholism. It is a grave and irreversible condition characterized by a progressive replacement of healthy liver tissue with scars, which can lead to liver failure and death. Fortunately, the abuse of alcohol is down and so is cirrhosis.
Death rate for cirrhosis fell dramatically between 1970 and 1992, the most recent year for which information is available. During that period, death from cirrhosis:
dropped 29.8% among black men
dropped 15.3% among white men
dropped 47.9% among black women
dropped 33.3% among white women
Help is Available
Numerous other health problems are associated with heavy alcohol consumption, which should be avoided. Many people find organized programs very useful in helping them reduce their consumption to moderate levels. For those who either choose or need to quit drinking entirely call Today Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-515-5032 or visit our website at www.hawaiiislandrecovery.com

According to the Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, more than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking, and more than nine million children live with a parent dependent on alcohol and/or illicit drugs. Alcoholism affects a wide circle of people close to the alcoholic – relatives, friends, neighbors, employers, co-workers, classmates, teachers, doctors, community workers – and is closely linked to many of America’s most difficult social problems, including crime, homelessness, teen pregnancy and domestic violence. Yet 82% of doctors admit that MDs avoid addressing alcoholism in their patients.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, sponsoring April as Alcohol Awareness Month for the 16th year, says it’s important that people see alcoholism not as an issue of morality or “will power,” but as a public health issue. What’s the truth about alcohol, and how do you know if you’ve got a problem? Here are some straight answers from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, is a disease that includes the following four symptoms:
Craving: A strong need, or urge, to drink.
Loss of control: Not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun.
Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety after stopping drinking.
Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get “high.”

Is alcoholism a disease?
Yes. The craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems. Like many other diseases, alcoholism lasts a person’s lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced both by a person’s genes and by his or her lifestyle.

Is alcoholism inherited?
Research shows that the risk for developing alcoholism runs in families. The genes a person inherits partially explain this pattern, but lifestyle is also a factor. Your friends, the amount of stress in your life, and how readily available alcohol is also are factors that may increase your risk for alcoholism. But remember: Risk is not destiny. Just because alcoholism tends to run in families doesn’t mean that a child of an alcoholic parent will automatically become an alcoholic too. Some people develop alcoholism even though no one in their family has a drinking problem. By the same token, not all children of alcoholic families get into trouble with alcohol. Knowing you are at risk is important, though, because then you can take steps to protect yourself from developing problems with alcohol.

Can alcoholism be cured?
No. Even if an alcoholic hasn’t been drinking for a long time, he or she can still suffer a relapse. To guard against a relapse, an alcoholic must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages.

Can alcoholism be treated?
Yes. Most alcoholics need help to recover from their disease. With support and treatment, many people are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives. Alcoholism treatment programs use both counseling and medications to help a person stop drinking. A range of medications is used to treat alcoholism: some are used during the first days after a person stops drinking to help him or her safely withdraw from alcohol. These medications are not used beyond the first few days, however, because they may be highly addictive. Other medications help people remain sober by reducing the craving for alcohol or by making the person feel sick if he or she drinks alcohol.
Does alcoholism treatment work? Alcoholism treatment works for many people. But just like any chronic disease, there are varying levels of success when it comes to treatment. Some people stop drinking and remain sober. Others have long periods of sobriety with bouts of relapse. And still others cannot stop drinking for any length of time. With treatment, one thing is clear, however: the longer a person abstains from alcohol, the more likely he or she will be able to stay sober.
Do you have to be an alcoholic to experience problems?
No. Alcoholism is only one type of an alcohol problem. Alcohol abuse can be just as harmful. A person may drink too much and too often but still not be dependent on alcohol. Some of the problems linked to alcohol abuse include not being able to meet work, school or family responsibilities; drunk-driving arrests and car crashes; and drinking-related medical conditions. Under some circumstances, even social or moderate drinking is dangerous – for example, when driving, during pregnancy, or when taking certain medications.
Are specific groups of people more likely to have problems? Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race, and nationality. Nearly 14 million people in the United States – one of every 13 adults – abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. In general, though, more men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems. The incidence of problems with alcohol is highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older. We also know that people who start drinking at an early age (14 or younger) greatly increase the chance that they will develop alcohol problems at some point in their lives.

Can a problem drinker simply cut down? It depends. If that person has been diagnosed as an alcoholic, the answer is “no.” Alcoholics who try to cut down on drinking rarely succeed. Cutting out alcohol (abstaining) is usually the best course for recovery. People who are not alcohol dependent but who have experienced alcohol-related problems might be able to limit the amount they drink. If they can’t stay within those limits, they need to stop drinking altogether.

How can a person get help for an alcohol problem?
You can call for information or admission assistance 24 hours a day. You may also apply for admission online to our drug rehab center by using our encrypted Preadmission Assessment form. Please be assured that your alcohol and drug rehab addiction treatment records and information are protected by law and we cannot share your information with anyone unless you give us written consent. Contact us if you have any questions or need further assistance at  866-515-5032.

Alcohol rehab is different than a 30 day dryout. Alcohol rehab is a process whereby you are educated on what is going on inside your body and how the addiction is controlling your life. Once you see that there is a way out, you have a more informed option available to kick this addiction once and for all.
Alcoholism is disease, bar none. Beating this terrible addiction is not only possible, but very much encouraged by society. The ugliness of alcoholism has destroyed people and families for decades, and if you know of someone with this affliction, you know firsthand that the problem doesn’t go away.
Alcohol affects the brain in a way, that the victim feels helpless and only wants to drink themselves deeper into a point of invisibility. The effects on others is often blamed on the alcoholic’s excuse that they didn’t mean to do that, or they didn’t know what they were doing. This is denial pure and simple.
Depression may be the reason a person chooses to drink, but it will soon become the excuse an alcoholic uses to continue it’s abuse. Much like other addictions, trying to associate in a group of people who drink often lures an unsuspecting person who simple cannot handle the alcohol. Once attached to this group, you are doomed to fail in everything you do, unless you separate yourself from these people.
Alcohol rehab is treated with care in finding the original cause of a person’s addiction and shows them how and where their problems multiplied once they chose alcohol as a crutch or short-term dulling effect.
Once an alcoholic, unfortunately always an alcoholic. The body can be cleansed of the alcohol, but never the brain. Once you take a drink the sensors in your brain will be re-ignited and the addiction immediately reappears. The success of any addiction, is to educate a person that they are always addicted, but they can prevent the temptation of it grabbing them and flinging them back into a full fledged active addiction.
Too many times an alcoholic will inflict personal body damage or death on another. It doesn’t have to be that way, if you take the right actions and seek help through alcohol rehab.

If you know someone that is an alcoholic and needs alcohol rehab, take a look at the options available and the choices anyone involved with someone who drinks beyond the point of control:

Contact Michael Larroque at Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-515-5032 to get  more information.

Hawaii Island Recovery is an addiction rehabilitation program that is unlike most of the other options available. Hawaii Island Recovery provides you with home-style residences located in the oceanfront community, dissimilar to the traditional institution-style living. Rather than the conventional way of rehabilitating, where friends and family are strictly prohibited to little or no contact, Hawaii Island Recovery believes that your family and friends are one of the key ingredients to making your journey to recovery smooth and successful. Every Sunday, Hawaii Island Recovery hosts a barbeque at the main residence, where family and friends are encouraged to come and celebrate your recovery. Also unlike most of the other programs, Hawaii Island Recovery thinks that after a long week of counseling sessions and meetings, it is necessary to take a day to relax and recuperate. Saturdays are activities day, where you can enjoy an afternoon on the beach, go into town for a day of shopping, or even try parasailing! Hawaii Island Recovery wants you to enjoy yourself while getting the personal and quality support that you need to a successful recovery.

Mission

Hawaii Island Recovery’s mission, first and foremost, is to instill an understanding of substance abuse and addiction as a battle that you can, and will, conquer. We are dedicated to teaching you how to achieve a healthy lifestyle that is possible even outside of our treatment center. Towards the end of your stay, you can begin to think about and discuss how you are going to cope upon returning to the “real world”. It can be a difficult transition, but we will be there to guide you on the same path that you have worked so hard to be on. It is H.I.R.’s hope that you continue your new life of sobriety and that you carry on everything you have learned and accomplished.

Our Pledge
At Hawaii Island Recovery, our pledge to you is that you feel respected and safe at all times. We know that every person is different and we promise to treat you as individuals. Although we encourage family and friends to be a part of your recovery, your stay here with us will remain private and confidential, and those family members and/or friends will only be notified upon your request.

We pledge that you will have access to quality resources needed to obtain a positive outcome. You will have the best treatment by credentialed medical physicians that are highly experienced in the field of addiction. In addition to individual and group therapy sessions, you will be exposed to programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and/or Al-Anon.Finally, we promise that you will always feel supported and encouraged to beat your addiction for life. This is your journey, and we are simply here to hold your hand while you move toward a life full of health and happiness.

Services Provided
The first step to most cases is an intervention. If you or a loved one is having a hard time deciding if or when to come, an intervention might be needed. At Hawaii Island Recovery, we can help you with that. We know that it is a huge and scary commitment to make a life change, and we are here for you from the very beginning. Staff members can be sent to your very home to alleviate the pressure of taking the first step alone. The second step, if needed, is detoxification. During the detoxification stage of recovery, you will be looked after by medical experts in order to manage withdrawals and to stabilize you for the next vital step to recovery, treatment.
During your 30, 60, or even 90 day stay with us, you will be provided with nothing short of the best medical experts to carefully and efficiently help you overcome your addiction. For the duration of your treatment, you will have access to psychiatrists and/or psychologists. You will be given individual therapy sessions as well as group sessions. A big part of recovery is not to hide the fact that you are an addict, but to accept it and share your story. In order to keep you on the 12-Step Program, your stay with us will also include twice daily AA meetings, once in the morning and once in the evening. A lot of times during recovery, you may feel lonely and afraid. Therefore, it is important to participate in such groups so that you know that you are not alone.
Another part of recovery is to be physically healthy, which can also improve your mental health. That is why you will have daily access to a local gym. At H.I.R. it is required that you exercise at least 4-5 days per week for 1-2 hours (unless a medical condition prohibits you from doing so). This is not a punishment. It is purely a healthy way of letting out emotions that can be keeping you in the past while doing something physically great for your body! Yoga is also available to you, and is a great way to relax and decompress while strengthening your body from within.
You will be residing in some of the most beautiful homes Kona has to offer. The houses are gated and private to ensure that you feel secure in your surroundings at all times. Single and double rooms are available to you. With the beach just across the street, it will be hard not to feel relaxed and comfortable. Transportation will also be given to you to guarantee that you are where you need to be at all times. Saturday is activities day. There are a number of different activities that you may partake in. Such activities include:

• A day at the beach
• Lay poolside at the residence
• Taking a ride in a submarine
• A day of shopping in town
• Parasailing
• Snorkeling
• Hiking
• Golfing

Sunday is the day we here at Hawaii Island Recovery feel is the most important. Every Sunday, H.I.R. hosts a barbeque where friends and family are encouraged to come. It is a time, not only for all of us to get together as a family, but to celebrate your recovery. Each week that you have abstained from the temptations of your addiction calls for a celebration!

Clientele: Who We Treat
Hawaii Island Recovery is a treatment program that helps beat the addictions of men and women over the age of 18 with addictions to:

• Alcohol
• Opioids
• Sedatives/Hypnotics
• Marijuana
• Prescription drugs of any type
• Etc.

Treatment can also be offered for men and women over the age of 18 who are battling with:

• Anxiety
• Panic
• Depression
• Etc.

Location
Hawaii Island Recovery is located on the Big Island of Hawaii in the beautiful city of Kona. The gated residences are across the street from one of Kona’s famous little beaches, Magic Sands Beach (a.k.a. White Sands Beach).

Hours of Operation/Contact Information
Hawaii Island Recovery is a 24/7 operation. You may contact us at all times of the day.  You can call us direct at 866-515-5032. If e-mail is the best way to reach us then you may e-mail Michael Larroque: info@hawaiiislandrecovery.com. Or you may visit our website at http://www.hawaiiislandrecovery.com/.

Fees and Costs
Fees and costs can vary depending on a 30, 60, or 90 day stay. We also take into consideration that every family is financially different. We are willing to work with you in order to get you or a loved one healthy again.

Conclusion
At Hawaii Island Recovery, we are dedicated to making your life change to sobriety successful for life. Here you will learn how to make healthy choices in all aspects of your life so that you can live it to its fullest potential. We are a family here at Hawaii Island Recovery. Come join us!

The state of California’s 8-year-old program that mandates treatment instead of prison sentences for drug offenders is dramatically decreasing California’s jail population and saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a study released Wednesday.
The study, prepared by the left-leaning Justice Policy Institute in Washington, echoes another report released by UCLA earlier this month that also touted huge taxpayer savings through doing away with prison sentences in favor of treatment. That report said the program, which was passed by voters in 2000 as Proposition 36, saved California $173 million in its first year and $2.50 for every dollar invested since then.
The report by the Justice Policy Institute, which seeks alternatives to incarceration, said the rate of imprisonment for drug possession offenses has decreased by more than 34%. It also said that dire predictions of a rise in violent crime with the passage of Proposition 36 were unfounded.
“It really helps to put a context to the debate,” said Jason Ziedenberg, the executive director of the Justice Policy Institute. “I think people need to understand how many people were in prison in 2000 as opposed to how many there are today and that there has been progress.”
The release of the two reports comes at a critical juncture for supporters who contend that the $120 million earmarked for Proposition 36 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger when funding runs out this summer is not adequate.
They contend that, because of inflation and an increase in costs for services, the money does not stretch far enough.
“It really needs to be at $209 million just to be bare-bones adequate,” said Margaret Dooley, statewide coordinator with the Drug Policy Alliance, which is seeking an increase in funding for the program. She said she and others would descend on the capital later this month to drum up support for the additional funding, which she believed would be forthcoming because lawmakers would be unable to point to a downside.
She also said she was confident of support from the more than 60,000 people arrested but kept out of prisons and jails because of Proposition 36.
Scott Ehlers, a coauthor of the Justice Policy Institute report, said he and others believe that the next goal should be to expand the reach of Proposition 36 to include those arrested for nonviolent crimes related to drug abuse, such as theft to purchase drugs.
He also said he did not anticipate any calls for major trims in the program.
“I don’t see anyone calling for a rollback by any means because I think the treatment is more cost-effective than sending people to prison,” he said.
Among other findings of the report are that spending on drug treatment in the state since 2000 has doubled, and that there has been a larger increase in drug treatment clients here than in the rest of the country. Also, the California prison population of drug offenders has been reduced from 27% to 21%, close to the national average.
Ziedenberg said the reason the Justice Policy Institute focused on California, as it does in many of its studies, is that”12% of the prison population is locked up there.”
He also said lawmakers will have to face the question whether they want to pay now for expanded drug treatment or later for additional prison facilities to handle the overrun.
“The main thing is for more money to be put in,” he said. “The thing we hear from people in California is that this is a good start.” TO GET HELP NOW WITH ADDICTIONS CALL HAWAIIISLANDRECOVERY AT 866-515-5032

Scientific research since the mid-1970s shows that drug abuse treatment can help many drug abusing offenders change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards drug abuse, avoid relapse, and successfully remove themselves from a life of substance abuse and crime. It is true that legal pressure might be needed to get a person into treatment and help them stay there. Once in a treatment program, however, even those who are not motivated to change at first can eventually become engaged in a continuing treatment process.Untreated substance abuse adds significant costs to communities, including violent and property crimes, prison expenses, court and criminal costs, emergency room visits, child abuse and neglect, lost child support, foster care and welfare costs, reduced productivity, unemployment, and victimization. The cost to society of drug abuse in 2002 was estimated at $181 billion, $107 billion of which was associated with drug-related crime. Successful drug abuse treatment in the criminal justice system can help reduce crime as well as the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases. It is estimated that for every dollar spent on addiction treatment programs, there is a $4 to $7 reduction in the cost of drug-related crimes. With some outpatient programs, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12:1.1
Extent of the Problem
The connection between drug abuse and crime is well known. Drug abuse is implicated in at least three types of drug related offenses: (1) offenses defined by drug possession or sales, (2) offenses directly related to drug abuse (e.g., stealing to get money for drugs), and (3) offenses related to a lifestyle that predisposes the drug abuser to engage in illegal activity (e.g., through association with other offenders or with illicit markets).In 2003, nearly 6.9 million adults were involved with the criminal justice system, including 4.8 million who were under probation or parole supervision (Glaze & Palla, 2004, www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ppus03.pdf). In its 1997 survey, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) estimated that about 70 percent of State and 57 percent of Federal prisoners used drugs regularly prior to incarceration (Mumola, 1999, www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/satsfp97.pdf). A 2002 survey of jails found that 52 percent of incarcerated women and 44 percent of men met the criteria for alcohol or drug dependence (Karberg & James, 2005,www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/sdatji02.pdf). Juvenile justice systems also report high levels of drug abuse. A survey of juvenile detainees in 2000 found that about 56 percent of the boys and 40 percent of the girls tested positive for drug use at the time of their arrest (National Institute of Justice, 2003, www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/adam/welcome.html).The substance abusing offender may be encouraged or legally pressured to participate in drug abuse treatment. Even so, few drug abusing offenders actually receive treatment. The 1997 BJS survey showed that fewer than one-fifth of incarcerated offenders with drug problems had received treatment in prison (not including participation in self-help or drug education).Untreated substance abusing offenders are more likely to relapse to drug abuse and return to criminal behavior. This can bring about re-arrest and reincarceration, jeopardizing public health and public safety and taxing criminal justice system resources. Treatment offers the best alternative for interrupting the drug abuse/criminal justice cycle for offenders with drug abuse problems.
Effective Treatment for Criminal Offenders
Studies show that treatment can cut drug abuse in half, reduce criminal activity up to 80 percent, and reduce arrests up to 64 percent.2 Based on a review of this and other scientific literature on drug abuse treatment and criminal behavior, in 2006 NIDA released Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations. This publication discusses 13 principles proven through research to help criminal justice organizations tailor treatment programs to better serve their populations. In brief, these principles are:
Drug addiction is a brain disease that affects behavior.
Recovery from drug addiction requires effective treatment, followed by management of the problem over time.
Treatment must last long enough to produce stable behavioral change.
Assessment is the first step in treatment.
Tailoring services to fit the needs of the individual is an important part of effective drug abuse treatment for criminal justice populations.
Drug use during treatment should be carefully monitored.
Treatment should target factors that are associated with criminal behavior.
Criminal justice supervision should incorporate treatment planning for drug abusing offenders, and treatment providers should be aware of correctional supervision requirements.
Continuity of care is essential for drug abusers re-entering the community.
A balance of rewards and sanctions encourages prosocial behavior and treatment participation.
Offenders with co-occurring drug abuse and mental health problems often require an integrated treatment approach.
Medications are an important part of treatment for many drug abusing offenders.
Treatment planning for drug abusing offenders who are living in or re-entering the community should include strategies to prevent and treat serious, chronic medical conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis.
Drug abuse treatment can be incorporated into criminal justice settings in a variety of ways. These include treatment as a condition of probation, drug courts that blend judicial monitoring and sanctions with treatment, treatment in prison followed by community-based treatment after discharge, and treatment under parole or probation supervision. Outcomes for substance abusing individuals can be improved by cross-agency coordination and collaboration of criminal justice professionals, substance abuse treatment providers, and other social service agencies. By working together, the criminal justice and treatment systems can optimize resources to benefit the health, safety, and well-being of individuals and the communities they serve.For more information, see Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations: A Research-Based Guide at www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/cj.html.