Rethinking Addiction: Is Jail Time the Answer?
For those who subscribe to the theory that addiction is a disease, prison as punishment is a terrible idea. After all, if addiction is an illness, the person suffering from it shouldn’t be penalized any more than someone with a cancer or leukemia, right? As Presidential candidate Chris Christie recently remarked, “We need to start treating people in this country, not jailing them.”
Interestingly, not everyone agrees. And whether you believe addiction is a choice or not, there is growing popularity in the idea that jail might help the recovery process.
How is that possible? How can being thrown in a cell with hardened criminals actually help someone suffering from addiction?
According to addiction psychiatrist Dr. Ed Gogek, who recently spoke with Newsweek about the issue, the answer is simple: in many cases, the threat of jail or jail itself is the only thing that will scare an addict into finally seek treatment.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, almost 90 percent of people abusing substances don’t think they have a problem and don’t think they need help. Sure, they may stop using for short — or even longer — periods of time. But there’s no motivating factor keeping them clean.
Except, perhaps, incarceration. “I’ve seen lots of people get clean and sober because they were facing possible prison time,” Gogek relates. “I’ve had patients tell me getting arrested was the best thing that ever happened to them.” Simply put, Gogek explains: “Tough drug laws save a lot of lives because the threat of jail keeps people in recovery.”
In short, says Gogek, “We need the threat of jail or prison. For many addicts and alcoholics, that threat might save their lives.”
Of course many people — including police officers themselves — will try everything else possible before turning an addict in for arrest. In Dixon, Illinois for example, addicts are encouraged to call the police for help. Law enforcement then arrives at their home to escort them to detox, not jail. It’s a plan that’s been showing signs of success throughout several Chicago suburbs. In Langloss and Lee County, police announced that anyone who brought their drugs or needles in and asked for help would be escorted to a local treatment facility. Since then, property crimes are said to have decreased. Addiction, said one local police chief, “is not a crime, it’s a disease, and police can be a voice to facilitate treatment for people who are suffering.”
Whatever finally prompts an addict to finally seek help — whether it’s a jail sentence or not — there’s no question that the end goal should always be treatment. At Reawakenings Wellness Center, our clientele is made up of patients from all walks of life. And our seasoned staff has helped countless people, regardless of their histories or backgrounds, get and stay clean. If you or someone you love is serious about finally breaking the chains of addiction, don’t hesitate to call Reawakenings Wellness Center today.