February 3, 2017  | 

Organization Highlight: National Association of Drug Court Professionals

Approximately 80% of individuals in prison or jail have a history of alcohol or other drug misuse and about 60% of arrested individuals test positive for illicit substances at the time of arrest.

While incarceration is intended to have a “correctional” aim, it seems to have little impact on post-release relapse rates with large numbers of affected individuals returning to substance use upon release.

A potential solution to this challenge lies in Drug Courts, an alternative to traditional justice system case processing that provides treatment and services to eligible individuals for a minimum of one year. Drug Courts require random drug testing and court appearances for progress reviews.

Drug Courts can reduce drug use and crime, save money, and help individuals achieve and sustain recovery.

The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), is a national non-profit organization founded in 1994 by judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and clinical professionals working to improve the criminal justice system to help offenders with substance use disorders to access treatment for their alcohol and other drug use. NADCP’s advocacy work includes working towards increased federal funding for Drug Courts and obtaining federal funding for Veterans Treatment Courts.

Learn more about the NADCP and Drug Courts on their website, Facebook, and Twitter.