In addition, patients receiving community-based drug treatment are half as likely to be arrested for a crime than in the year before they began receiving treatment. Supporters of treatment say it would allow police and courts to more aggressively pursue the real culprits the manufacturers and dealers who profit from others addictions. The often-forgotten victims of substance abuse are newborns. Of those, few are even diagnosed as having drug problems. Drug addiction in newborns can have profound and lifelong effects.
Research links prenatal drug exposure to developmental problems.
Drug-affected infants often are born prematurely, have low birth weights and other significant medical problems. The Legislature is considering bills this session that would change the focus from imprisoning non-violent drug offenders to treating their addictions.