“Shrinking the Prison Population” (editorial, May 11) rightly points out that parole and probation systems are sending too many drug-addicted and mentally ill offenders back to jail but doesn’t mention that the primary mechanism triggering these sanctions is failed drug tests.
Some recidivism would be addressed by expanding community-based drug treatment and mental health services, but unless we change our understanding of addiction, and its treatment, we will continue to unjustly punish people for their disease or their mental condition.
Many of us who work in this field have come to understand addiction as a relapsing, recurring disease or condition requiring us to address lapses in a way that does not trigger a punitive response. This emerging chronic care approach to drug treatment distinguishes itself from more punitive approaches where anything less than total sobriety is considered a failure.
Howard Josepher New York, May 11, 2009
The writer is president and chief executive of Exponents, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of people affected by drug addiction.
Exponents is a 501(c)3 minority-led organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals affected by drug addiction, incarceration, and HIV/AIDS. Serving clients from the entire New York City area, Exponents' programs assist individuals and their families through difficult transitions — from addiction to recovery, from incarceration to civilian life, and from welfare to work.
a continuum of services:
Our programs are tailored to complement one another and to provide a continuum of services that help active drug users through all the varying stages of recovery. We don't just treat the problem — we help the person get better. Each of our programs builds skills, educates, and provides life-saving information. Individuals learn user-friendly techniques to manage stress, promote healthy behavior, avoid relapse, and become self-advocates.
changing lives:
More than 1,200 people began to change their lives at Exponents this past year:
• Nearly 100% were substance users, and 90% had chronic illnesses • 95% were African-American and Latino • 58% were men and 42% were women • 772 individuals were HIV-positive • 70% had a history of incarceration • 90% were living below the federal poverty line • 75% were homeless
Our inclusive environment welcomes people of every race, gender, age, and sexual orientation. The diversity of our participants also includes people at varying stages of recovery.
