New State Law Shifts Drug Offenders From Prison to Rehab Centers in Louisiana
Louisiana has the highest per-capita incarceration rate in the entire world, according to a local news source. As a result, state prisons require millions of taxpayer dollars to house and care for prisoners. But a new state law now allows non-violent drug offenders to gain early release from jail or prison as long as they enroll into rehab centers in Louisiana.
If you or someone you care about is addicted to alcohol or another substance, it’s not too late to get help. Call our helpline at 888-414-2380 to speak with a treatment specialist who can help you find the perfect local treatment center that can help you overcome addiction.
The Signing of Louisiana House Bill 442
House Bill 442 allows for the development of rehab programs for inmates.
The new law was signed into effect by Governor Bobby Jindal, and allows non-violent drug offenders to enter rehab if the court rules that they suffer from addiction. Offenders would only be admitted to rehab if the court also determines that they would respond positively to treatment, and wouldn’t be a threat to local communities. Offenders would no longer be eligible to receive rehab treatment if they stop meeting these requirements at any point.
Jindal says this new bill helps offenders receive the rehab treatment they need to overcome addiction, and to safely re-enter communities without being a threat. Jindal believes that low-risk and non-violent drug offenders should go to rehab instead of jail, and turn their lives around to become more productive members of society.
House Bill 442 also permits the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to work together on developing rehab programs for Louisiana inmates. Rehab centers throughout the state may start seeing an influx of patient admissions on behalf of the new law.
How Rehab Centers Can Help Drug Offenders
Alcohol and drugs are associated with about 80% of offenses that lead to prison time in the U.S. Nearly half of all prison inmates are clinically addicted to alcohol or another substance, and about 60% of people arrested by law enforcement test positive for illicit drugs at the time of arrest. But rehab centers can help drug offenders learn how to live happy, fulfilling, and successful lives without the use of substances.
Rehab centers do much more than help addicts get safely through detox, which is often the most difficult stage of overcoming addiction. Rehab centers educate recovering addicts about substance abuse and addiction, and about how to re-enter society as refreshed, healthy, and sober individuals. Rehab centers also offer counseling and therapy sessions so patients can identify the root cause of addiction, and get set on the path to healthier and happier lives.
Most Louisiana drug offenders who get shifted from prison to rehab centers will receive treatment at a residential facility. These live-in rehab programs, also known as inpatient rehab programs, offer patients 24/7 access to medical support and staff who can assist during detox and withdrawal. These programs also allow patients to focus strictly on recovery without distractions so former inmates can leave feeling healthier, sober, and ready to face the world.
Are you addicted to alcohol or another substance and need help treating your addiction? Call our helpline at 888-414-2380 to locate rehab centers in Louisiana that can help you achieve lifelong sobriety. Our treatment specialists will provide you with the caring, supportive guidance you need to overcome addiction.
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