Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Hi Dr. L.:
I have always felt that with our overcrowded prison system there could
be another way of handling addicts, other than putting them in prison.
Perhaps a hospital setting with guards to make sure they remain there
until "cured".
I don't think that most addicts that go to prison, however go there
because of their use of drugs, per se. I think that they end up in
prison because of the behavior that happens as a result of the use of
the drugs.
I heard not to long ago that the major portion of the people who are in
prison are there as a result of drugs. Something like 80%. I think
that sounds like a very large percentage, but it may be true.
The revolving doors that we have in California are because of the over
population problem in the prisons, so if something could be done, other
than prison, for these people who are addicted to drugs then perhaps we
could keep the Singleton's and others such as him in prison for their
full terms.
Addiction is a disease, whether it be alcohol or drugs, or anything
else. And if the addiction is treated, the result will be that a the
crime rate will go down, IMO. And prison is not a treatment facility,
so IMO we need to go down the road of perhaps setting up hospitals where
these people are ordered to go and stay until they can be released into
society again with perhaps 12 step followup treatment.
I don't see where this would be anymore expensive that putting them into
prison, and in the long run perhaps a lot less expensive for society.
Sue
>
> Hi Sue - this is certainly a difficult issue. Concurrently 'sick and
> criminal' (an individual factor, a social factor -- though that's too
> simplistic a distinction) which should be treated? I understand prisons
> have psychiatric wards and psychiatric hospitals have criminal wards; I
> would think that working in these fields would be extremely
> challenging. What would you prefer as the disposition? And I wonder
> what the comparative costs are? Maybe Doc and others will come in on
> this one (as to medical sociologuy, etc.) Glad you posted this. :) LDMF.
--
Two rules in life:
1. Don't tell people everything you know.
2.
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