Recovery requires a change in routine

It's far less expensive to treat drug users than to incarcerate them.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The key to recovery for drug users is staying away from the people, places and things associated with getting high, judges say.
"It takes a strong person to stay away from family and friends if they're not a good influence," said Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr. of Youngstown Municipal Court.
As far as places, "You say 'the projects' and I know what's happening -- you're there to buy drugs."
Judge Douglas oversees Treatment Court, a new name that reflects the combining of Drug Court and Mental Health Court. The defendants' nonviolent crimes, such as theft associated with drug use, are misdemeanors.
He said those who start taking drugs are generally influenced by family or so-called friends. Sometimes, a depressing life event, such as the loss of a loved one, will create a need to "drown out" or "wash away" the feeling with drugs or alcohol, he said.
Judge Douglas recalled one successful graduate who moved and found new friends. It was difficult for her to make the changes but necessary for recovery, he said.
In the city, marijuana, crack cocaine and prescription drugs such as OxyContin are prevalent. Use of methamphetamine, a synthetic stimulant, is mostly found in outlying areas.
At Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, Judge Jack Durkin oversees Drug Court for felony crimes. He has one participant who has used meth.
The judges' drug courts handles users -- not drug traffickers or dealers or those charged with violent crimes associated with drugs.
A road to recovery
In recovery, which can be a lifelong effort, it's important to avoid the people, places and things associated with drug use that can trigger a relapse, the judges said. Addictive behavior, Judge Douglas said, is tough to overcome.
Judges Douglas and Durkin agreed that recovery -- whether it's drugs or alcohol -- means keeping busy. No idle hours to think about getting high.
Shedding the grip of drugs requires residential or outpatient treatment centers, 12-step meetings, periodic drug tests, visits with a municipal or Ohio Adult Parole Authority probation officer and Treatment Alternatives to Street Crimes case manager.
In addition, recovering addicts are required to obtain a GED, valid driver's license and job.
"Unless we address those [lifestyle] issues they may revert back to drugs," Judge Durkin said. "We want them to be taxpayers, not a burden on society."
He said statistics prove that it is far less expensive to provide treatment than to lock up drug users.
In 2002, for example, of the 1.4 million men and women in prison, 80 percent admitted that alcohol or drug use played a part in their crimes, the judge said. Of the 1.4 million locked up, 93 percent will eventually get out and more than half of those will be arrested within three years of release, he said.
"So when you look at those statistics and add up the money we spend to incarcerate -- it cost $31 billion in 2002 to operate prisons, about $20,000 [per inmate] to incarcerate -- but it costs $3,000 annually to offer treatment," Judge Durkin said.
He said prison doesn't work when it comes to addressing the problem of recidivism for users, the underlying problem of addiction. He said the recidivism rate is less than 14 percent for his Drug Court, compared with 50 percent nationally.
Judge Douglas said treatment does not succeed unless the person is willing. "We're able to sniff out" those who enter the Treatment Court program solely to avoid a criminal penalty, he said.
Successful completion of drug court either in municipal or common pleas court means the defendant's criminal charge will be dismissed. After that, the record may be expunged.
meade@vindy.com