To get you startedI’ve quoted from their introduction below:
Alcohol and other drug problems are concerns of the public health and justice systemsincluding the criminalciviland juvenile branches. The impact of alcohol and other drug problems in the justice system are not limited to cases involving drug-related offenses. Alcohol and other drug problems compound many of the complex issues the justice systems handle every dayincluding assaultvandalismchild abuseand divorce.
While most attempts to decrease the number of drug-related offenses have often solely emphasized drug interdiction and incarcerationresearch has shown that they have had minimal—if any—impact on decreasing substance abuse or the violence associated with criminal activity by individuals with alcohol and other drug problems (Marlowe2002).
Effectively addressing problems requires an integrated public health and public safetyTreatment decreases drug problemscrimeand recidivism while improving health conditions. Treatment also saves moneyand in today’s climate of growing fiscal constraintsit is imperative to re-evaluate spending priorities. Alcohol and other drug problems place a huge burden on our economy—resulting in high health care costsproductivity lossesand other expenses associated with crime and accidents (Belenko et al.2005). A large portion of this economic burden falls on state justice systems (Join Together2006).
I recently discovered this websitePhysicians and Lawyers for a National Drug Policy. There is SO MUCH on this site. I encourage you to browse through it.
To get you startedI’ve quoted from their introduction below: