Posts Tagged ‘Hawaii Drug Rehab Center’

Neurons are the building blocks of the nervous system. It is estimated that there are 100 billion neurons in the human brain. Neurons are complex and have many components. It is sometimes helpful to get an understanding of the brain and specifically neurons to get a clear picture of what drugs and alcohol do to the brain. Here’s some information on neurons:Glial Cells: Commonly called the “glue” of the neuron is the support structure of neurons. Glial cells provide neurons with nutrition, insulate them, and collect cellular debris when they die. Astrocytes form the physical support structure of the neuron. They also provide nutrients and clean up the debris around the neurons. Oligodentrocytes produce the insulation for the neuron (myelin sheath) in the central nervous system. Finally, Schwann cells produce the insulation for the neuron in the peripheral nervous system. Myelination increases the speed of axon transmission of action potentials and the myelination of various areas of the brain during development roughly parallels their functional development. Myelination of the sensory and motor areas occurs within the first year of life and myelination of the prefrontal cortex continues into adolescence and adulthood. This process can be highly effected by drug and alcohol abuse. Dendrites receive chemical messages from neighboring neurons. The Cell Body contains the nucleus (genes), mitochondria, ribosomes, etc… The Axon Hillock adds up the resulting chemical from neighboring neurons. The Axon transports electrical signals and chemical products of the cell body. The Presynaptic Bulb stores the chemical messengers that can bind to neighboring neurons. The Synapse is the junction between one neuron and a neighboring neuron. The neuron is made up of ions (Cations + and Anions -). With all the complexity of the brain and body, there are only 5 primary ions: Potassium Ions (K+) found in bananas, oranges, etc., Sodium Ions (Na +) found in salt, Chloride Ions (Cl-) found in salt, Calcium Ions (Ca+) found in milk, and protiens (A-) found in meats or produced by mitochondria cells. These Ions can pass through the Neuron Membrane (Differential Permeability) and the relative concentrations of ions on either side of the membrane create a dynamic equilibrium. The balance, or imbalance, of ions creates an electrical charge in the cell of roughly -70 mv. When a neuron is stimulated the electrical balance within the neuron changes and an action potential can be generated. An Action Potential is a sudden change in voltage in the neuron. An action potential is an all-or-none response. This means that the action potential does not vary and is generated when a voltage threshold is passed. It is the action potential that activates synaptic vesicles in the synaptic bulb to release neurotransmitters. Autoreceptors are proteins that regulate internal processes related to the production and release of neurotransmitters. They bind to their neuron’s own neurotransmitter receptor sites and it is these autoreceptors that are affected by external substances such as drugs. When autoreceptors are disrupted by drugs, neurotransmitters are disrupted. There is something called down-regulation and up-regulation of dendrite receptor sites. Down regulation is a process of decreasing the number of receptor sites due to excessive amounts of a neurotransmitter over an extended period of time (Cocaine for example, decreases the number of dopamine recpetors in the brain). Up Regulation is a process of increasing the number of receptor sites to the scarce amounts of a neurotransmitter over an extended period of time (Depression is thought to be an increase in the number of serotonin and norephinerine recpetors). Anti-depressants were developed with the processes of up-regulation and down-regulation in mind, no pun intended. Understanding the processes of the neuron and the neuron’s make up are an integral part of understanding how drugs can modify the brain.

If you are suffering from addiction please call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911.

There is a new program airing on VH1 called Sober House with Celebrity Rehab’s Dr. Drew Pinsky. The show follows Celebrity Rehab clients through the extended care, or transitional living, experience. Throughout extended care/sober living rehab history owners of rehabs have been approached by various media organizations requesting permission to document the sober living experience with cameras. Every extended care rehab I have worked at has been approached. While the offer is always tempting, most rehabs have always declined because we feel that the sensationalization of clients struggling with a serious addiction isn’t really ethical. There are arguments to be made for both sides though. On the one hand it exploits a person’s personal struggles with addiction, but on the other hand it educates the public on the process of addiction and the rehab experience. With the new show Sober House the public will, for the first time, be able to see where the real work of staying sober starts. Everyone in the treatment business knows that 30 days of primary treatment is not enough for anyone. That is why every primary 30 day facility in the Nation, with the exception of a few, now offers extended care treatment. Sober living and extended care treatment is exponentially more intense and requires much more operational man power than people think. Most people think that “sober living” is just what the name implies, a residence where people who are sober live together. But, it is actually much more! Running a sober living, or transitional addiction treatment program, requires a much more experienced and savvy staff than primary treatment requires. The freedom a sober living arrangement allows makes it much harder to keep track of a client’s progress and because clients are experiencing the “real world” for the first time sober, it creates a plethora of crisis that the treatment staff has to deal with on a daily basis. So I expect Dr. Drew’s new show, Sober House, to be much more interesting than Celebrity Rehab could ever be. For additional information contact info@hawaiiislandrecovery.com

 

If you are suffering from addiction please call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911.

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

 

If you are suffering from addiction please call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) published the first-ever, science-based guide to drug addiction treatment. In its Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide, the Institute outlines some of the essential components of drug addiction and its treatment based on 30 years of scientific research.

“There is no ‘one size fits all’ drug addiction treatment program,” said Dr. Alan I. Leshner, NIDA’s Director. “Because addiction has so many dimensions and disrupts so many aspects of an individual’s life, the best programs provide a combination of therapies and other services, such as referral to other medical, psychological, and social services. The combination of treatment components and services to be employed must be tailored to meet the needs of the individual, including where he or she is in the recovery process.”

He also noted that treatment is tremendously cost effective – it’s estimated that for every $1 spent on addiction treatment programs, there is a $4 to $7 reduction in drug-related crime, criminal justice costs and theft alone. When savings related to health care are included, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12 to 1. Major savings to the individual and to society also come from significant drops in interpersonal conflicts, improvements in workplace productivity, and reductions in drug-related accidents.

The publication of the Principles coincides with an article in the October 13 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In the JAMA article Dr. Leshner noted, “…advances in science have greatly increased, and in fact revolutionized, our fundamental understanding of the nature of drug abuse and addiction, and, most importantly, what to do about it.”

He continued, “Although the onset of addiction begins with the voluntary act of taking drugs, the continued repetition of ‘voluntary’ drug taking begins to change into ‘involuntary’ drug taking, ultimately to the point where the behavior is driven by compulsive craving for the drug. This compulsion results from a combination of factors, including in large part dramatic changes in brain function produced by prolonged drug use. This is why addiction is considered a brain disease – one with imbedded behavioral and social context aspects. Once addicted, it is almost impossible for most people to stop the spiraling cycle of addiction on their own without treatment.”

While the JAMA article was written primarily to inform physicians about drug addiction and the effectiveness of treatment, the Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment booklet is intended for health care professionals and the general public.

Among the principles and concepts spelled out in this guide, Dr. Leshner emphasized two points: treatment of addiction is as successful as treatment of other chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma, and for those with severe addiction problems, participation in treatment for less than 90 days is of limited or no effectiveness.

“Three decades of research and clinical practice have revolutionized our understanding of drug abuse. It is hoped that these treatment principles will serve as a foundation for replacing ideologies about drug addiction with science-based treatment,” Dr. Leshner said.

In addition to outlining the principles, NIDA’s publication includes answers to frequently asked questions about addiction, an overview of drug addiction treatment in the United States, and a brief discussion of the science-based approaches to drug addiction treatment with suggestions for further reading. For more information see our website at www.hawaiiislandrecovery.com or call us at 866-906-6911.

Hawaii comprises eight main islands and a 1,500-mile chain of islets covering more than 6,400 square miles. The islands include Hawaii, Kahoolawe, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Niihau, and Oahu. The island of Oahu and the city of Honolulu–the major drug transportation hub in the state–are the focal points for the flow of drugs into the islands. Honolulu, the state capital, is located on the most populated island of Oahu. Honolulu has more than 377,000 residents–nearly 10 times the population of Hilo or Kailua, the next largest cities. Hawaii has approximately 1.2 million residents and ranks forty-second in population. It has the most racially diverse population of any state. Asians account for 41.6 percent of the population, while Caucasians represent 24.3 percent of the population, the lowest percentage of any state. Native Hawaiians account for 9.4 percent; Hispanics, 7.2 percent; and African Americans, 1.8 percent. The remaining 15.7 percent is mixed race. The term Pacific Islander refers to Native Hawaiians, Samoans, Tongans, and individuals from other islands located in the Pacific Basin or those descended from a combination of two or more of these groups. The Pacific Basin includes Hawaii, Guam, China, and Japan, among others.
Hawaii’s reliance on imported consumer goods makes it vulnerable to the maritime transportation of drugs into the state. Hawaii is a transshipment point for methamphetamine destined for the Pacific Basin from the West Coast and is a source of supply of marijuana for cities in the continental United States. Because of the high volume of drugs transported into and through the state, Hawaii was designated a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in fiscal year (FY) 1999.
In Hawaii there are more than 140 street gangs with over 1,500 members. Most gang-related crime is attributed to Filipino, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, Samoan, and Tongan street gangs. These gangs distribute most drugs at the retail level throughout Hawaii. Hispanic street gang activity is increasing. Some street gang members have relocated from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Hawaii, particularly Honolulu.
Drug abuse is a serious concern in Hawaii. According to the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), 6.7 percent of the respondents aged 12 and older in Hawaii reported using any drug in the past month. Nationally 6.3 percent of respondents reported past month drug abuse. According to the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), the total number of treatment admissions for drug and alcohol abuse in Hawaii increased over 50 percent from 1994 through 1999. During the same period, the number of treatment admissions for drug and alcohol abuse remained stable nationwide.
Per capita spending on substance abuse in Hawaii is significant. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University reported that Hawaii spent $368 per resident in 1998 on substance abuse-related services, ranking the state seventh in the nation including Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. That same year Hawaii spent $430 million of its annual budget (8.6 percent) on substance abuse-related programs that focused on justice, education, health, child/family assistance, mental health/developmental disabilities, public safety, and the state workforce.
IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS HELP WITH DRUB ABUSE OR ALHOLISM REHABILITATION CONTACT Michael Larroque at  www.hawaiiislandrecovery.com or email him at info@hawaiiislandrecovery.com

 

If you are suffering from addiction please call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911.

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!

If you are suffering from addiction please call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911.

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 866-906-6911.

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.

If you are suffering from addiction please call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911.