Drug Courts Are Not the Answer: Toward a Health-Centered Approach to Drug Use

The Drug Policy Alliance reviewed research on drug court procedures, outcomes, and participant re-arrest rates in the United States. The researchers concluded that most drug courts were an ineffective use of state resources and that a public health approach for addiction treatment was needed. Approximately 35% of people needing addiction treatment are referred through the criminal justice system. In its critique, the Drug Policy Alliance noted that drug courts have selective admission criteria that limits access to treatment, the policies create a punitive treatment setting by penalizing relapse with incarceration, and long-term re-arrest rates are on-par . . .