Michigan, United States 6/1/2009 9:40:09 PM
Should Addicts Be Given a Choice
With the growing number of addicts in the prison system, should the incarcerated individual be able to choose their own drug treatment program?
According to recent statistics from the Bureau of Justice an average of two-thirds of prison inmates admitted to being regular drug users. In addition more than half of inmates reported that they were under the influence of drugs in the month prior to their current offense and around one third of inmates were under the influence of drugs when they committed the crimes they were currently incarcerated for.
Obviously drugs play a major role in crime in our country and can be the deciding factor of whether a person can actually avoid the prison system all together. Drug addiction and crime is a story that reaches far and wide and affects our entire population no matter the background, ethnics, or family history.
One recent example of this is the latest news story about Redmond O’Neal, the son of actress Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O’Neal, who was arrested for possession of narcotics and bringing drugs into a jail parking lot. As a result, he was sentenced to time in prison and then given the chance to enroll in a drug rehab program under the stipulation that that he remain off drugs.
This past week news broke that the 24-year-old O’Neal will be transferred to a year-long drug rehab program. According to the LA sheriff spokesperson a judge would not allow him to enter a private rehab and stated he would undergo treatment at a jail program. There was no report on whether plans were made for O’Neal to enroll in a private drug treatment program or not, previous to the announcement.
Often times when an addicted person appears in court for having committed a crime a judge will order the person to drug rehab. Choosing the method of treatment for the individual with a limited knowledge of their drug and treatment history is a difficult task for a judge. The question remains if this is the best way to go about helping someone who is addicted to drugs? Or should the prisoner/addict himself with the help of his family chose a program based on the specific treatment needs?
Erica Catton, Director of Promotion for Narconon Eastern US feels that the only way to successfully treat an addiction is to fully assess the needs of the individual and develop an individualized treatment plan based on the addicts’ assessment data. “Many of the clients I have worked with over the years have needed a treatment program that handles all of the symptoms as well as the underlying reasons for their drug use,” says Catton. “But you can’t know this unless you have all the information on past methods of treatment and what has failed and worked for the individual. That is one reason why the Narconon program is so successful.”
The Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation program has been treating addicts for the last 44 years and has stably achieved an over 70% success rate for permanent recovery. Over the years the Narconon has admitted many clients as a result of a court order and gotten excellent results. The way that the program does this is by handling both the mental physical aspects of the addiction. Narconon uses a unique sauna detoxification method that actually removes drug resides from the body and thereby helps eliminate physical cravings.
The program then tackles the mental and emotional aspects of addiction through a series of life skills courses that increase the ability of the individual. “We have dealt with many individuals over the years that have had legal difficulties as a result of their addictions,” says Catton. “And when they complete Narconon they can return to society productive, ethical and contributing members. There is no need for them to re-enter the prison system.”
Entering drug rehab when faced with a prison sentence gives the individual external motivation to change their behavior. And as a result of this change they stop committing crimes and can begin to give back to society instead of taking from it. Therefore in the case of choosing jail or a rehabilitation program, the emphasis should be on choosing a drug treatment program that will get and keep the addict drug-free.
If you or someone you know is in need of a successful drug treatment program contact Narconon today at 877-362-9682.
