NADCP - The Facts on Drugs and Crime in America

Prison population explosion in the United States

• FACT: 1 in 100 U.S. citizens is now confined in jail or prison.
• FACT: This burden is borne disporportionately by racial and ethnic minorities.
  • 1 out of every 15 African American men
  • 1 out of every 36 Hispanic men
• FACT: The U.S. incarcerates more people per capita than 26 of the largest European nations.

Substance abuse connection

• FACT: 80% of offenders abuse alcohol or other drugs.
• FACT: 50% of jail and prison inmates are clinically addicted.
• FACT: 60% of individuals arrested for most types of crimes test positive for illicit drugs at arrest.

Imprisonment has little effect on drug abuse

• FACT: 60 - 80% of drug abusers commit a new crime (typically a drug-driven crime) after release from prison.
• FACT: Approximately 95% return to drug abuse after release from prison.

Accountability is the key

• FACT: Unless they are regularly supervised by a judge, 60 to 80% of addicted offenders drop out of treatment prematurely.

http://www.nadcp.org/sites/default/files/nadcp/Facts%20on%20Drug%20Courts%20.pdf

NDCI Releases New Fact Sheet on Prescription Drug Misuse

The National Drug Court Institute announces the release of a new Drug Court Practitioner Fact Sheet:  Understanding and Detecting Prescription Drug Misuse and Misuse Disorders.  

This fact sheet is designed for drug court professionals. It describes prescription drug misuse and provides information on:

• The attributes of the most commonly misused and addictive prescription drugs
• The extent and consequences of misuse
• Side effects and toxicity
• Characteristics of those who are most likely to misuse prescription drugs
• Signs and symptoms of misuse

Ways to identify and treat those who may have developed a drug use disorder, including a section on medication-assisted treatment of opioid use disorder