Drugs and substance abuse is the repeated use of drugs and alcohol that often interferes with normal functioning of a human being such as health, work or social relationships. Drugs abuse mostly involve illegal, harmful drugs such as opioids, heroin and cocaine, among others. The drugs offenders end up behind bars and finally get convicted of drug and substance abuse. Most of the young, energetic people have been incarcerated in prisons due to drug-related crimes. As Institute of Medicine (US) (2011) assert, the rise in opioids misuse in the United States among the young population has called the need by the lawmakers to address the problem. Local jails continue to receive more inmates of drugs-related cases to alarming levels that require alternative solutions instead of incarceration as a corrective system (Watson, 2015). Some states have opted for treatment options in rehabilitation centers through government aid as an alternative way to offer a solution to the increasing number of drug-related crimes. The paper discusses pros and cons of government financed drug treatment as a substitute for incarceration.
According to the department of corrections, it has been noted that drug prisoners are the majority in US prisons. It is estimated that about 30 per cent of total inmates in the United States were imprisoned for crimes related to drug abuse. The high cost of incarceration has resulted in a shortage of funds in the department of corrections, thus forcing the government to inject more taxpayers' money. To solve the problem, a more cost-effective way is being implemented to decrease this population through alternative correction system. According to Maclean & Saloner (2019), the strategy involves offering treatment to individuals convicted of drugs and substance use disorder through government aid instead of sending them to prison. Prisons may not solve their problem but only increase the chance of recidivism due to the impact of felony conviction after the release.
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Offering treatment by the government to drugs offenders is less expensive compared to imprisonment. According to Barr (2016), a recent research indicates that enrolling a drug addict offender in Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison (DTAP) center is about 32000 dollars annually while imprisonment would cost 64000 dollars which is double the amount. The expenses include technical skill training, support and accommodation services. Additionally, treatment costs per person ranges from as low as $1900 to a maximum of $6600, according to the recent evaluation study. The program requires offenders to plead guilty of their crime and begin a two-year therapeutic community treatment.
Another benefit of government financed treatment is the likelihood of lowered recidivism as well increased probability of securing a job after recovery. Treatment in a rehab center combined with life coaching skills would be suitable for non-violent drugs offenders. They are taught life skills such as literacy training, job skills training, and educative programs as opposed to peer pressure habits that lead to criminal behaviors. Back end treatment is also used to solve the drugs addiction problem which is implemented after serving a considerable period of time in prison. Drug court and community option programs are examples used to help drug prisoners (Cooper, 2017). They involve day reporting, home detention and intensive supervision. The strategies have worked in a state such as Maryland where treatment has reduced relapse and reoffending of drug criminals while building their character.
Treatment models give the best solution to drugs crimes as opposed to sending perpetrators to prison. Drug courts and Corrections Option Programs have achieved great mileage in addressing the addiction problems. The programs are designed to safeguard the public and assure the drug addicts that they will be held accountable for their actions. The state governments initiated programs that provide care to those who are not insured under any health cover by paying for their medical expenses while undergoing treatment (Maclean & Saloner, 2019). Many drug addicts have been reported to recover after completing drug treatment programs. The offenders finally live a crime-free life as long as the treatment regimens meet their needs such as mental health, vocational training and life skills. Therefore, government sponsored drug treatment is preferable compared to sending people to prisons and solves their real underlying problems.
However, on the other hand, there are several challenges, problems or disadvantages related to offering treatment to drug addicts instead of incarceration. The treatment programs may not work for some addicts who may not be willing to reform. It might turn out to be a wastage of resources when trying to change or help such people who have severe drug addiction problem. Watson (2015) noted that a large number of drug prisoners are usually violent and difficult to maintain in a rehabilitation centre due to mental issues such as depression. In prison, therapeutic community treatment may be preferred because of maintenance of discipline of the inmates compared to direct treatment in a rehab centre. Immediate treatment of the drug addicts may not change a person's behaviour without undergoing some form of punishment in prison.
Treatment from drug addiction takes time to heal especially recovering from alcoholism. The addict can easily relapse in the first stages of recovery if they are not closely supervised. Lack of basic necessities such as job and positive social relationships negates the positive effects of treatment. The drug offenders typically develop chronic dependence such that reconnecting to the drug-free world requires a great effort which goes beyond treatment. Barr (2016) asserts that the treatment programs drain the government finances due to the large number of drugs addicts who get caught peddling or trafficking drugs. The government has to keep on investing more in rehab centres and in hiring skilled workers to work towards changing the lives of drug criminals.
Treatment of drug offenders implies forcing drug addicts to attend class sessions or self-help groups who will educate them on how to live drug-free life despite the challenges they come across. Most of them are reluctant and not willing to change since they are used to drugs. Some these groups they join do not address the root cause of their problem but only covers prevention programs. Chronic joblessness and the status of being desperate have limited the ability of many young people from drug crime lifestyle. Those convicted of drug crime even after being treated, hardly secure any job (Cooper, 2016). The offenders are rejected by employers, denied membership in some trade unions and become ineligible for government education grants hence making them relapse to drug abuse.
Treatment of drug offenders requires thorough assessments that will reflect changes to their addiction problem. Managing anger, hostility, guilt, shame and stigma is hard for the violent addicts in rehab institutions. Instituting treatment programs sometimes becomes hard, and the preferred corrective way is to send the addicts to prison (Cooper, 2017). Under incarceration, discipline is much easier to enforce compared to sending them directly to treatment centres (Watson, 2015). Still, some may not reform even after the period of treatment since discipline and self-control are not enforced in comparison to prisons. Effective use of coercion is not implemented while undergoing treatment as well as addressing resistance and criminality that is associated with drug and substance abuse.
Conclusively, treatment of drug offenders would be preferred compared to incarcerating the addicts in prison. Treatment is cost-effective, reduces congestion in jails, and lowers chances of recidivism. It addresses the root cause of drug addiction, teaches life skills, and designs the stages of change. The only problem with treatment is its time-consuming nature and does not enforce discipline among the addicts. It requires professionals to coach drug criminals throughout until they become new people who will live drug-free lives.
References
Barr, D. A. (2016). Introduction to US Health Policy: the organization, financing, and delivery of health care in America . JHU Press.
Cooper, J. (2017). The United States, Mexico, and the War on Drugs in the Trump Administration. Willamette J. Int'l L. & Dis. Res. , 25 , 234.
Institute of Medicine (US). Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health . Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Maclean, J. C., & Saloner, B. (2019). The effect of public insurance expansions on substance use disorder treatment: evidence from the Affordable Care Act. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management , 38 (2), 366-393.
Watson, K. D. (2015). Mental disorder, drug crime and the development of healthcare systems. In Healthcare in Private and Public from the Early Modern Period to 2000 (pp. 72-95). Routledge.
