Recidivism. It refers to a person’s relapse back into criminal behavior, often after the person receives sanctions for a previous crime, within a three-year period of time after their initial release. At the top of the list of those experiencing recidivism, are drug offenders with a 76.9% of being rearrested within a 3 year period. As teenagers, I’m sure many of us know about, have seen, or know someone who uses drugs. Personally, I have first hand witnessed what drugs can do to a person mentally, physically, and emotionally and how the cycle of recidivism really never ends once it starts. Recidivism is a result of neglect by jails and federal prisons to treat a repeat offender’s addiction. I believe repeat drug-crime offenders should be given
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This is known as a “dual-diagnosis”. In the United States, approximately 8.9 million people suffer from both a mental health and substance abuse issue. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) tell us, that of these people struggling with dual disorders, the majority – 55.8% – don’t receive any treatment for either disorder. A mere 7.4% get treatment for both issues. These mental health issues (i.e. depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, etc.) could and often do prevent those who do want to end their abuse from getting the help they need and reaching their personal goals. When they are thrown into a jail cell for a problem they physically can not help or control, it only continues to worsen the problem as mental health is proven to decline in response to “in-and-out” habit offenders. While time in the pen is an adequate punishment for breaking the law, it is only effective with those who are mentally sound to understand the consequences of their actions. For those who suffer mental illness and can not prevent themselves from breaking the law, it only deteriorates their mental state further, increasing the need for immediate and extensive rehabilitation and …show more content…
Addiction can happen to anyone, it could happen to you, you, or you. Addiction is not a choice, it is a mental illness, a disease. It deserves to be treated just like any other illness, not punished and pushed aside. I challenge all of you to educate yourselves on what really happens behind bars, not just the prison ones, but the mental ones that keep addicts from receiving the help that they need. Time in jail only adds to the problem, not solve
This is known as a “dual-diagnosis”. In the United States, approximately 8.9 million people suffer from both a mental health and substance abuse issue. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) tell us, that of these people struggling with dual disorders, the majority – 55.8% – don’t receive any treatment for either disorder. A mere 7.4% get treatment for both issues. These mental health issues (i.e. depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, etc.) could and often do prevent those who do want to end their abuse from getting the help they need and reaching their personal goals. When they are thrown into a jail cell for a problem they physically can not help or control, it only continues to worsen the problem as mental health is proven to decline in response to “in-and-out” habit offenders. While time in the pen is an adequate punishment for breaking the law, it is only effective with those who are mentally sound to understand the consequences of their actions. For those who suffer mental illness and can not prevent themselves from breaking the law, it only deteriorates their mental state further, increasing the need for immediate and extensive rehabilitation and …show more content…
Addiction can happen to anyone, it could happen to you, you, or you. Addiction is not a choice, it is a mental illness, a disease. It deserves to be treated just like any other illness, not punished and pushed aside. I challenge all of you to educate yourselves on what really happens behind bars, not just the prison ones, but the mental ones that keep addicts from receiving the help that they need. Time in jail only adds to the problem, not solve