The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University recently issued findings from a study of inmates and substance abuse issues. The beginning of their release states:
“Of the 2.3 million inmates crowding our nations prisons and jails, 1.5 million meet the DSM IV medical criteria for substance abuse or addiction, and another 458,000, while not meeting the strict DSM IV criteria, had histories of substance abuse; were under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of their crime; committed their offense to get money to buy drugs; were incarcerated for an alcohol or drug law violation; or shared some combination of these characteristics, according to Behind Bars II: Substance Abuse and America’s Prison Population. Combined these two groups constitute 85 percent of the U.S. prison population.”
While experts at addiction treatment centers throughout the country have been pushing for more drug rehabs instead of incarceration, this study presents hard-hitting facts about the correlation between substance abuse and crime in America.
If you or someone you love is in need of an addiction recovery program, contact us today for help. Call 1-877-372-5719 now.