Not Enough Drug Abuse Treatment in Prison
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, just a fraction of the inmates that need treatment actually get it.
By Jordan Smith, 10:30AM, Fri. Jan. 16, 2009
Twenty years worth of research shows its effective, but the vast majority of prisoners who need drug treatment don't receive it, researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association. "Treating drug-abusing offenders improves public health and safety," NIDA Director, and the study's co-author, Nora Volkow said in a press release. Indeed, treatment helps cure addiction, stop the spread of infectious diseases, and, says Volkow, "treatment also makes it less likely that these abusers will return to the criminal justice system."
According to the NIDA report, roughly half of all prisoners have substance abuse issues, but just 20% of those actually receive any formal treatment.
Got something to say on the subject? Send a letter to the editor.
A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.
Jordan Smith, May 9, 2013
