Drug Abuse In Prisons

Everett, Cristina. "Drug Treatment Can Succeed as an Alternative." America 's Prisons. Ed. Roman Espejo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from “Treatment, Not Prison, Best Solution for Drug Offenders." Daily Bruin 19 Oct. 2000. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Oct. 2016.

At one point in time the high percentage of men and women who are drug

Across the United States and throughout the world there is an epidemic of epic proportion involving drug addiction. Here in North Carolina the majority of the Department of Corrections inmate population is known to have substance abuse problems. (Price, 62) Along with this epidemic is the growing problem of prison overcrowding. There is a correlation between the two. Many of today’s correctional facilities house inmates that have committed drug related crimes or crimes that they committed while under the influence. There is a solution that would help society and lessen the overcrowding of the penal system. The solution is to help those that are committing crimes because of an addiction disorder. There is viable evidence that this solution

inmates and the use of drugs, such as how is it easier for an inmate whom is

Research has identified that prison based substance abuse treatment for offenders differs greatly for males and females. Female offenders tend to have numerous triggers for their substance abuse with the research showing female offenders being significantly disadvantaged compared with male offenders when entering treatment programs (Messina, Grella, Cartier, & Torres, 2010). The following essay will summarise research conducted on the topic of substance abuse treatments for incarcerated females, looking at the research conducted by Messina et al. (2010), and how this research fits in with the available literature, and the contribution it has made to the field of research on the topic.

For the better part of the 20th century, those convicted of crimes and sentenced to serve time in prison, who also have an addiction have been treated unfairly. Substance use disorder has been viewed as a disease for decades now, and despite this, this disease is not being treated in America’s prison systems properly. The recent sentencing of Cameron Douglas, son of legendary actor Michael Douglas, to four and one half years additionally in federal prison has brought this crucial injustice to light. Cameron was serving a five year sentence for various drug related charge and is an admitted addict of intravenous cocaine and heroin. Heroin was discovered in the cell he resided in, and in an unprecedented legal proceeding, Judge Richard Berman gave Cameron the longest sentence on record for a prisoner found to have drugs while incarcerated. Instead of receiving much needed treatment for his disorder, Cameron will spend nearly the same amount of time in prison as his original sentence called for.

Currently, America incarcerate a higher percentage of its citizens than any other industrialized nation in the world. The negative impact of addiction to alcohol and drugs on American culture and society is inescapable. Although various treatment models have been developed and implemented over the years, a monumental number of people struggling with substance dependence continue to be under treated. Whereas, many people are questioning the criminalization people face because they ingest or consume drugs, for the most part, the criminal justice system focus more on incarceration instead of rehabilitation for the offenders and addicts.

In the United States, the rise in both illicit drug and alcohol abuse is continuing at an alarming rate. In 2009 alone, the United States saw 23.5 million people over the age of 12 needing treatment for drug or alcohol abuse (National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2011). Per the Drug Enforcement Administration, in the same year (2009), almost 32,000 arrests on drug related charges were carried out (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2015). Even with the threat of prison time, and most federal prisons being filled with inmates on drug and alcohol related charges, 46.4% in 2016 the use and abuse of these substances is still on the rise (Federal Bureau of Prisons, 2016). Because of this, and the seemingly ineffective incarceration system, the call for

A research study was done by professors at the University of Denver on prisoners after they are released. Once released from prison, prisoners have an elevated risk of dying due to drugs within a short amount of time. The study compares prior drug history, prescriptions, and other overdoses. The inmates were contacted two months after they were released to see if they are using, suicidal, religion, or programs they are involved in. The study includes ways to help prevent relapse and death in recently released convicts.

Research shows that as many as three-fourths of all Georgia inmates have drug or alcohol addiction. Should we continue to incarcerate these non-violent offenders or divert them away from the prison system and into special courts. I believe the drug courts will be a good addition to our sentencing system because it will free up law enforcement resources to fight violent crime. Georgia has been treating the symptoms of addicted and mentally ill prisoners, criminal behavior, rather than treating the root cause of those symptoms. As a result, spending on corrections has skyrocketed, with corrections becoming the biggest driver in state budgets.

In the United States and around the world there is an epidemic involving drug addiction. Also, we are facing a growing problem revolving around prison overcrowding, due to inmates that have committed drug related crimes, or offences while under the influence. There’s a solution that would help society and lessen overcrowding, and that’s to help those that are committing crimes due to an addiction disorder. In this paper, I will explore option’s that will help the growing population, reduce recidivism, provide treatment for offenders, and assist with re-entry.

The drug treatments programs that prisons offer is beneficial in several different aspects. Although, inmates are viewed in a bad appearance in the community. However, the victim is the direct costumer and the

Studies show that men are more likely to forcibly abused, however women are more likely to persuaded to participate in sexual activity. In regard to inmate-on-inmate abuse in prison, males are 16% more likely than females who are at 6% to have been victimized over eleven or more times, to have been bribed and offered protection, or threatened with harm. Females are less likely to report incidents that involve multiple perpetrators such as incidents initiated by gang.

One of the most active battlefields on the war on drugs can be found in America’s prison

The act of imprisoning drug offenders for long periods of time puzzles my mind. A crime that is considered non-violent, has the potential to sentence drug offenders to decades in prison. Countries that faced similar problems such as Portugal, turned to a different solution, ultimately leading to success in rehabilitating drug offenders. However, the United States has failed to create a system to reintroduce former convicts back into society. The future of drug offenders relies on the programs that the United States government chooses to put them through, and for most of the time, it’s a poorly executed program. No human should spend years locked away for a non-violent drug crime, it’s just morally incorrect. In order to come together collectively