Resolution in Support of Evidence-based Medical Treatment for Substance Use Disorders Exposed
The Resolution in Support of Evidence-based Medical Treatment for Substance Use Disorders was adopted by ALEC's Public Safety and Elections Task Force and approved by ALEC's Board of Directors on January 15, 2012. An updated version of this bill is available on ALEC.org, language removed is indicated with strikethrough text, additions are given in bold. (Accessed June 15, 2016).
ALEC Bill Text
Summary
State spending on corrections has grown faster than almost any other budget item in the past 20 years, reaching nearly $50 billion dollars. Prison populations have risen dramatically and corrections costs have quadrupled. In addition, the burden of care for addiction and mental illness has shifted to jails and prisons. Scientific advances in understanding substance use disorders and in developing effective treatments have progressed dramatically in the past several years. Current policy has generated for drug and alcohol offendersMore than 50% of inmates meet the medical criteria for drug dependence or abuse[i], with adults on parole or supervised release (23%) from jail being nearly 3 times more likely to be dependent on or to abuse a substance than are their peers (8%)[ii]. The criminal justice system is the largest source of referral to addiction treatment[iii], with the overall criminal justice costs of opioid dependence approximating $5.2 billion annually. Despite scientific advances in understanding opioid and alcohol dependence and in developing FDA-approved pharmacotherapies to treat such diseases, current criminal justice policy has largely not embraced such approaches. Substance use disorders often lead to a revolving door of arrest, incarceration, release to the streets untreated or undertreated, and then followed by rearrest and return to incarceration, resulting in a costly, futile cycle. Evidence-based medical treatment should be made available as an option to reduce incarceration and recidivism.in the treatment of offenders with substance use disorders.
Model Resolution
WHEREAS, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is committed to developing effective criminal justice policies that create safe communities for citizens as well financially sustainable budgets; and
WHEREAS, state spending on corrections has grown faster than almost any other budget item over the past 20 years, reaching nearly $50 billion dollars[iv] criminal justice system has increased by more than 600% in the past 40 years[iiv]; and
WHEREAS, more than 50% of inmates meet medical criteria for drug dependence or abuse[iiivi] and
WHEREAS, adults on parole or supervised release (23%) from jail are nearly 3 times more likely to be dependent on or to abuse a substance than are their peers (8%)[iv]; and
WHEREAS, up to one-third of all heroin users pass through the criminal justice system annually[viii]; and
WHEREAS, the criminal justice system is the largest source of referral to addiction treatment[vixi]; and
WHEREAS, the use of addictive substances is problematic for the criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, the overall criminal justice costs of opioid dependence is $5.2 billion annually; and
WHEREAS, locking up millions of people for drug-related crimes has failed as a public safety strategy and has harmed public health.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ALEC supports policies and programs that partner correctional facilities and community health care providers in the treatment of opioid and alcohol dependence; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ALEC [insert state here] supports non-addictive treatment plans, including non-narcotic medications, to decrease the costs associated with reincarceration due to untreated addiction and mental illness, to improve public safety, and to medically treat offenders suffering from addiction or mental illness.treat offenders suffering from opioid and alcohol dependence; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ALEC [insert state here] supports the use of non-addictive evidence-based medical treatment in prison and as an alternative to incarceration.
[i] Josiah Rich, Sarah Wakeman, and Samuel Dickman. “Medicine and the Epidemic of Incarceration in the United States.” The New England Journal of Medicine. 2 June 2011. Page 2. Print.
[ii] US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies. “Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Volume 1. Summary of National Findings.” Rockville, MD; HHS Publication 10-4586. 2010.
[iii] US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, Office of Applied Studies. “Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS): 1999-2009. National Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services, DASIS Series: S-56, HHS Publication No. (SMA) 11-4646, Rockville, MD. 2011.
[iv] Josiah Rich, Sarah Wakeman, and Samuel Dickman. “Medicine and the Epidemic of Incarceration in the United States.” The New England Journal of Medicine. 2 June 2011. Page 2. Print.
[v] Josiah Rich, Sarah Wakeman, and Samuel Dickman. “Medicine and the Epidemic of Incarceration in the United States.” The New England Journal of Medicine. 2 June 2011. Page 1. Print.
[vi] Josiah Rich, Sarah Wakeman, and Samuel Dickman. “Medicine and the Epidemic of Incarceration in the United States.” The New England Journal of Medicine. 2 June 2011. Page 2. Print.
[vii] US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies. “Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Volume 1. Summary of National Findings.” Rockville, MD; HHS Publication 10-4586. 2010.
[viii] Josiah Rich, Sarah Wakeman, and Samuel Dickman. “Medicine and the Epidemic of Incarceration in the United States.” The New England Journal of Medicine. 2 June 2011. Page 2. Print.
[ix] US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, Office of Applied Studies. “Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS): 1999-2009. National Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services, DASIS Series: S-56, HHS Publication No. (SMA) 11-4646, Rockville, MD. 2011.
