In 2015, nearly 1.5 million people in the United States were arrested on some type of drug violation. This number doesn’t even include those arrested for crimes, such as theft and prostitution, which are often due to the drug’s effect on the person’s behavior. For years, court systems have focused solely on punishment, often in the form of a prison sentence. However, recent research is proving that professional treatment, such as those offered at rehab centers in Philadelphia, are better at fighting drug addiction than incarceration.
How does incarceration affect a person?
Children of parents who are incarcerated often find themselves beginning their lives in jail. It’s stressful for them and their family members, which often leads to drug abuse and other addictive behaviours. A person will experience a lot of change when they enter and leave incarceration. The most significant change they will likely face is that it can often be very hard for them to maintain successful relationships with their family members and loved ones when they are in prison. It can also be hard for them to feel like they’re connecting with others in the community when imprisoned.
Why Incarceration Doesn’t Work
The thought that a prison sentence will scare substance users into stopping their habit after being released just doesn’t prove true. In fact, more than 75% of those arrested on drug charges are rearrested in the future.
This is because drug addiction is a disease, and like all other diseases it requires proper treatment. Unfortunately, the majority of prisons in the United States either do not offer adequate drug treatment services or lack them completely. Even those prisoners that actively seek out help are oftentimes put on a waiting list and never end up receiving the intense type of treatment required to fight addiction, or any treatment at all.
Unlike prisons, rehab centers in Philadelphia focus on rehabilitation versus punishment. The goal of rehab treatment is to treat the person’s specific addiction(s) and provide them with valuable tools to help prevent relapse. Rehab centers help those struggling with addiction identify triggers, get mental health issues diagnosed, and understand the causes behind the addiction. They provide the patient with effective tools, help them develop a support system, and teach vital life skills to help reduce the risk of relapse after rehab.
Many court systems in the country now allow those struggling with addiction to seek out treatment instead of going to jail. If you or a loved one is facing criminal drug charges, rehab centers in Philadelphia can sometimes be a viable option to get the help needed to get on the road to recovery.
Contact an Intervention Specialist
Addiction intervention is a term that refers to a treatment process for health care professionals, families, and addicts to work together during any phase of addiction to find help and relief. Nowadays, treatment of addiction and mental health is not limited to research and drug therapies. One treatment option that has been around for a while but expanding is the use of intervention specialists.
Our organization works with individuals that are struggling with addiction, mental health challenges, and more. We provide healing interventions for people with addiction and get them involved in their treatment plan. At Addiction Treatment Group, Jim Reidy has successfully performed over 400 interventions. His experience helps an addicted person begin and sustain their journey to recovery.