Dayton Treatment Centers

Dayton, Ohio, is perhaps best known as the birth place of the Wright Brothers. However, although it is famous for its hugely important role in history and this has played an important part in building its economy, it is also a city that is plagued by substance abuse. One way that Dayton has aimed to address is this is through the implementation of drug courts.

Drug Courts in Dayton, OH

The drug courts in Dayton are in place to give people who abuse substances and commit a crime, to seek treatment in detox and rehab facilities rather than be given a prison sentence. If they graduate from their treatment program, the criminal charges against them are dropped. In 2000, the Ohio Department of Public Safety conducted a review on the effectiveness of these drug courts. This review was completed by the University of Cincinnati, the Ohio State University, and the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services. The results were impressive, indicating that:

• Drug courts enhance treatment.
• Drug courts increase system collaboration.
• Drug courts support related services.
• Drug courts are not soft on crime.
• Drug courts are cost effective.

However, there were also two significant criticisms against the system of drug courts, namely:

• That they do not provide an intervention to prevent people from abusing substances in the first place.
• That they do not affect those people who have a substance abuse disorder but have not engaged in criminal activities.

Accepting the above two criticisms, Dayton aimed to paint a picture of the level of substance abuse within its city limits, as well as on public perception of substance abuse. In terms of the level of abuse, it was found that:

• 118,217 residents of Dayton drink alcohol to an unhealthy level.
• 45,809 residents of Dayton currently have a substance abuse problem, of which 7,238 also consume alcohol.
• The greatest drug threats come from cannabis, heroin, crack and powder cocaine, stimulants, and opiates other than heroin.

In terms of public perception of the issues surround substance abuse and addiction, it was found that:

• 93% of people know someone in Dayton who uses cannabis.
• 65% of people believe cannabis should be available for medicinal purposes.
• 44% of residents first try substances when they are between the age of 18 and 25.
• 51% of people feel it is easy to access cocaine in Dayton.
• 79% of people worry about the rise of meth abuse.
• 75% of people feel that there is a rise in non-medical prescription drug abuse in Dayton.
• 79% of people believe that enhancing detox and rehab treatment is the best way to address substance abuse disorders.

To address these issues, Dayton has engaged in educational intervention activities targeting young people in particular, providing them with healthy alternatives to substance abuse. At the same time, they have endeavored to make detox and rehab treatment more accessible, breaking through barriers such as those imposed by lack of financial resources. Lastly, they have increased availability of aftercare programs, designed to ensure people who have completed rehab continue to receive support to avoid relapse.