Rehab vs. Jail Time: How Drug Rehab Provides a Path to Recovery
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Peace Valley Recovery is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Our mission is to provide patient-centered care that focuses on healing and recovery from addiction. This blog provides information, news, and uplifting content to help people in their recovery journey.
Most drugs are illegal throughout the United States. This includes drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and acid. Other substances like marijuana, prescription painkillers, or prescription amphetamines, are illegal under certain conditions. The legal system is tasked with handling drug-related cases in the United States. Any number of things involving drugs or even alcohol can result in legal action.
Selling illicit substances often results in automatic legal action. Drug distribution of any kind is a serious offense. But getting caught while buying, possessing, or taking drugs often leads to legal action as well. Anyone involved with drugs in any of these manners will likely find themselves at least ticketed, if not arrested. Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence is grounds for severe legal repercussions, too.
The specific charges a person receives for their drug-related actions depend on a few factors. The type or types of drugs, the amount, the town or state where the person is, and any existence of previous charges all play a role. If ordered to appear in court, sentencing could be as simple as community service or a fine, or as severe as doing time in jail or prison.
Using jail time as a go-to line of defense against people using drugs isn’t the best way to take on many of these cases. Sure, some who run into substance-related trouble aren’t regular drug or alcohol users. They ended up getting caught in the one-off time they were involved with drugs. This isn’t the case for most people with legal troubles stemming from substance use, though. Most of them have existing substance or alcohol use problems.
Treating Drug Addiction with Time
Relying on the jail and prison system to handle people with drug problems isn’t the most effective approach. Drug addiction is a deep-seated issue. It’s not easy to stop and people can’t “just quit using,” as some may believe. Drug rehab is a much better alternative to jail time for many people struggling with addiction. Comparing the benefits of rehab vs. jail time is crucial when looking at those in the system for drug offenses.
Relying on the jail and prison system to handle people with drug problems isn’t the most effective approach. Drug addiction is a deep-seated issue. It’s not easy to stop and people can’t “just quit using,” as some may believe. Drug rehab is a much better alternative to jail time for many people struggling with addiction. Comparing the benefits of rehab vs. jail time is crucial when looking at those in the system for drug offenses.
People who struggle with substance abuse and addiction are more likely to end up with drug charges. Once someone is charged with a drug-related crime they quickly find themselves wrapped up in the legal system. For some individuals, the cycle of addiction also involves an extensive cycle in the court system. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, 1 out of 5 people incarcerated is doing time for a drug-related offense.
People who carry a record have a harder time meeting their basic needs. For example, looking for housing or finding a job often involves a background check. Seeing drug-related criminal charges will likely make a potential landlord or employer hesitate. Someone trying to escape the cycle of addiction and rebuild their
Is locking up those with substance use disorder the most effective approach? People have little to no access to adequate drug rehabilitation while behind bars, especially compared to a qualified drug rehab facility. Offering offenders the option to attend drug rehab provides an alternative path to recovery for those who would end up trapped in the system for substances.
How Long Do Drug-Related Lockups Last?
There is an alarming number of people doing time for charges related to drugs, often stemming from a struggle with drug addiction. Of the 1 in 5 people incarcerated for drug-related charges, 456,000 of them are locked up for nonviolent crimes, such as possession charges.
You may think possession doesn’t carry too long of a sentence but The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law reported otherwise. Their research showed that many possession charges result in a jail sentence of a year or longer. People battling drug addiction are at risk when simply carrying drugs. Possession could easily result in a charge of a year or more.
This means people struggling with drug addiction find themselves not only locked up but locked up for months or years at a time. Then once they end up in the system they’re at risk for increased sentence time with every additional charge. Turning drug addiction into a legal matter makes it more challenging to overcome the problem.