Effective Drug and Alcohol Counseling Programs in Prison Could Save Nation Money

An overwhelming majority of inmates within the United States has a disorder that involves alcohol or drugs. This raises the question of whether or not more of our rehabilitation institutions should offer some sort of treatment programs.

A recent Kansas City post examines this phenomenon, highlighting the gap between incidence of problems and those who actually receive treatment. Many of these individuals who are jailed may enter the system with an addiction problem and without proper treatment, could easily go back to their old ways once they finish serving their time.

According to the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, only 11 percent of those who enter the system with a problem actually receive any counseling or rehabilitation once they are behind bars.

This organization argues that the United States could save more money in the long term if they would expand programs to help convicts overcome their problem. Researchers also highlight that a lot of inmate crimes involve drugs or alcohol and effective programs can speed rehabilitation and even produce productive citizens.

The report found that if all inmates who needed treatment and follow-up care received the necessary services, the nation could actually break even in a year if just over 10 percent of this population was able to remain substance and crime free and employed. For each inmate who remained sober, employed and crime free after this 10 percent has been accounted for, the economic benefit would equate to $90,953 per year.