06/07/01: Drug Treatment Over Jail

[Freakapotimus]

Thursday June 07 08:29 AM EDT

Poll: Drug Treatment Favored Over Jail

By Analysis
By Kate Miltner ABCNEWS.com

Americans favor rehab over jail for drug users.

Americans by nearly a 3-1 margin prefer treatment programs instead of incarceration for first- and second-time drug offenders, a view that could signal support for efforts to revamp the nation's drug laws.

Sixty-nine percent of adults in an ABCNEWS.com poll say they'd support a state law requiring drug treatment over jail time for first and second offenses. Twenty-five percent oppose it.

A group led by financier George Soros has been backing this change, starting with Proposition 36, approved by California voters in November. It places first- or second-conviction nonviolent drug users in treatment programs instead of in jail. The Soros group plans similar campaigns in Ohio, Florida and Michigan next year.

Men and Republicans are marginally less apt to favor treatment programs — they're preferred by 66 percent of men and 62 percent of Republicans, compared to 72 percent of women and 73 percent of Democrats and independents. Better-educated people also are slightly more apt to favor treatment instead of jail time.

Methodology

This ABCNEWS.com survey was conducted by telephone May 16-20 among a random national sample of 1,024 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Sampling, data collection and tabulation was conducted by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, Pa.

ABCNEWS polls can be found on the Internet in our Poll Vault.

[TheGiantPeach]

At 6/7/01 09:54 AM, Freakapotimus wrote: Thursday June 07 08:29 AM EDT

Poll: Drug Treatment Favored Over Jail

By Analysis
By Kate Miltner ABCNEWS.com

Americans favor rehab over jail for drug users.

Americans by nearly a 3-1 margin prefer treatment programs instead of incarceration for first- and second-time drug offenders, a view that could signal support for efforts to revamp the nation's drug laws.

Sixty-nine percent of adults in an ABCNEWS.com poll say they'd support a state law requiring drug treatment over jail time for first and second offenses. Twenty-five percent oppose it.

A group led by financier George Soros has been backing this change, starting with Proposition 36, approved by California voters in November. It places first- or second-conviction nonviolent drug users in treatment programs instead of in jail. The Soros group plans similar campaigns in Ohio, Florida and Michigan next year.

Men and Republicans are marginally less apt to favor treatment programs — they're preferred by 66 percent of men and 62 percent of Republicans, compared to 72 percent of women and 73 percent of Democrats and independents. Better-educated people also are slightly more apt to favor treatment instead of jail time.

Methodology

This ABCNEWS.com survey was conducted by telephone May 16-20 among a random national sample of 1,024 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Sampling, data collection and tabulation was conducted by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, Pa.

ABCNEWS polls can be found on the Internet in our Poll Vault.

I would rather see drug abuse offenders go to rehab rather than prison. It would make prisons A LOT less overcrowded, and those people would get the treatment they need.

[Serendipity]

What are the success numbers of rehab vs. prison? What needed is more experimental methods. Trial and error. You need something that treats the drug problem, as well as the problems that lead to use of drugs in the first place. You need to work the issue at several angles, as opposed to one.

[Freakapotimus]

I would rather see "drug offenders" in rehab, but then again, I am for drug legalization, so I don't think jail is the right idea, but neither is "mandatory" rehab. People should be responsible for their own habits, and if they need help, rehab should automatically be available for them.

[fuck-fu]

At 6/11/01 01:49 PM, Freakapotimus wrote: I would rather see "drug offenders" in rehab, but then again, I am for drug legalization, so I don't think jail is the right idea, but neither is "mandatory" rehab. People should be responsible for their own habits, and if they need help, rehab should automatically be available for them.

the only problem with this idea is that the people won't go for rehab. they will just overdose and die.
on the other hand i don't really feel like forcing people into "rehab". By doing so would simply be making another prison..
On the other hand people are forced into mental institutes...
For example a few years back when i was suicidal i was locked into a hospital room..
I was stuck
i had no option but to wait for my anti-depressents to work..

Still don't feel much better but oh well..

[Freakapotimus]

At 6/13/01 12:08 AM, fuck-fu wrote: the only problem with this idea is that the people won't go for rehab. they will just overdose and die.

At the risk of sounding cold, let them. If someone really wants or needs the help, they can and should go to rehab. If that person also gets horribly addicted to a certain drug, that was their decision in the first place.

on the other hand i don't really feel like forcing people into "rehab". By doing so would simply be making another prison..

Very true. The person should want to go. It won't work as well if the person is forced to go, and they really don't want to get off drugs.

[wdfcverfgtghm]

At 6/13/01 10:49 AM, Freakapotimus wrote:

At 6/13/01 12:08 AM, fuck-fu wrote: the only problem with this idea is that the people won't go for rehab. they will just overdose and die.

At the risk of sounding cold, let them. If someone really wants or needs the help, they can and should go to rehab. If that person also gets horribly addicted to a certain drug, that was their decision in the first place.

on the other hand i don't really feel like forcing people into "rehab". By doing so would simply be making another prison..

Very true. The person should want to go. It won't work as well if the person is forced to go, and they really don't want to get off drugs.

If someone want's to run their lives into the ground then putting them in a suit and a secraties position won't save their lives. And If someone want's to just use recreational drugs occasionally, then Refusing to let the do that won't help anyone.