Prevention and Treatment for Drug Users Instead of Prison

New Jersey was recently selected to participate in a new federal program aimed at preventing and treating drug addiction instead of putting addicts in prison. The program, called SBIRT for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment, has operated since 1992 but has been given more importance under the Obama administration. This marks a bold new phase in the decades-long war on drugs, which has imposed large prison sentences on drug dealers and users alike. Now, government money and attention are being put in healthcare and treatment.

“We know that prevention works, treatment helps, and people get better,” said Pamela Hyde, the administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Though it can seem that a life is ruined by drugs, there is always hope and it’s never too late for another chance. Research and statistics have shown that prevention and treatment are the best options to deal with drugs in this country. And the new emphasis on prevention will help many from falling prey to drugs in the first place.

If you think you have a problem with drug dependence or abuse, you should seek help now before you have to face any mandatory sentencing. Thankfully, there is good help available. Detoxification and behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating drug dependence. Addicts are often unable to complete treatment on their own or with family members, so it’s very important to seek the right treatment center. At Seabrook, we customize our treatment plans to individual patient’s needs, so you know the help you’re getting is right for you or a loved one. Seabrook has rehabilitation centers in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient center in New York (NY). Contact Seabrook today for any questions about alcohol, addiction, and treatment.