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Mental Health And Substance Abuse Essay

1570 Words7 Pages

Introduction

Substance abuse in the United States prison system is a serious epidemic that is consistently talked about but has only grown to become a worsened problem. Why is this? The negative harsh correlation between mental health and substance abuse in the criminal justice system is something to be discussed. I am here to shed light on a topic I hold dear to my heart. Substance abuse is a sadly common disorder to be seen in people all throughout the world. I have seen first-hand, throughout my family and friends, what substance abuse can do to a person, and it is not something that should be taken lightly.

Since being exposed to the realm of drug addiction, I have been an advocate for those who struggle with substance abuse and for …show more content…

The compulsion to use drugs is a characteristic of addiction, regardless of the consequences for individuals and society. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 65% of inmates meet the criteria for SUD (Substance Use Disorder). Inmates often use drugs to cope with the stress of incarceration, to self-medicate mental health issues, or to fit in with the prison culture. Prior to incarceration, inmates may have also used drugs to deal with personal issues or to get out of a rough spot economically. Substance abuse among inmates has significant consequences for public safety. It increases the risk of recidivism and contributes to the continuous spread of illegal substances in America. The journal articles, Drug Treatment in State Prisons and Inmate Drug Abuse Treatment Slows Prison Revolving Door gives an inside look into prison treatment and some of its …show more content…

Wexler found the effectiveness of prison-based substance abuse. If this were to be combined with aftercare as well, this leads to a major reduction in recidivism. His specific study of 1999 that involved 478 prisoners presented that after three years, out of all prisoners released only 27 percent that went through the drug treatment program with aftercare returned to prison. This number is extremely small when compared to the large 75 percent recidivism rate of those prisoners who were not involved with the treatment program (American Psychological Association).

Another study conducted by scientist Steven S. Martin using inmates in the Delaware Correctional System highlighted the same result. Their strategy was to have continuum care for inmates transitioning back into the community with a work-release program that used therapeutic communities. A therapeutic community is essentially a drug-free residential setting that has continuous monitoring by counselors as well as group therapy and family sessions. Results showed that after one year, there was a significantly higher percentage of inmates that were drug and arrest-free when assigned to these release programs. After three years, those who continued to stay in therapeutic communities had significantly less drug use and re-arrests than those who dropped out of the program (American Psychological

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