Richmond Treatment Centers

Richmond, Virginia, is addressing its substance abuse problem through drug courts. These courts ensure that people who have fallen into the trap of drug or alcohol addiction have the option of getting treatment instead of having to go to prison. These programs have been highly successful in two ways:

1. They provide addicted people the opportunity to go through detox and rehab, thereby allowing them to beat their addiction.
2. They provide a significant deterrent for those considering substance abuse, such as young people. As such, their very existence has created a form of early intervention.

The Goal of Drug Courts in Richmond, VA

Drug courts do three main things:

1. They ensure that those who have been court-ordered to seek treatment receive frequent and random urine drug tests. The courts order people to go to outpatient rehab facilities in the main, which means these test stop them from relapsing.
2. They order people to attend 12 step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotic Anonymous. This means they are also provided with aftercare through peer support once they complete their treatment.
3. They force addicted people to frequently report to court, which has been proven to help them stay focused on their recovery.

An Integrated Approach

Some have criticized drug courts because they see them as a legal intervention only. However, in reality, they work together with a huge variety of professionals linked to the addiction problem, as well as the community itself. Indeed, they do deal with those who have had criminal problems, but their goal is also to prevent others from turning to substance abuse in the first place.

The reason why Richmond authorities has decided to take a strong criminal justice approach to substance abuse, is because of the clear link between crime and substance abuse. In fact, statistics have shown that:

• 32% of all convicted felons in Richmond are drug offenders.
• 50% of all convicted felons in Richmond have used drugs in the past.
• 31% of all convicted felons in Richmond abuse alcohol.
• 67% of people on probation in Richmond abuse drugs.
• 69% of all inmates in Virginia jails need treatment for substance abuse.
• An increased number of babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome, and even more have been exposed to illegal drugs.

The Preventive Approach

The overarching goal of the drug courts in Richmond is to stop substance abuse in its tracks. This is done not just by addressing those who have committed criminal acts. Rather, the courts are engaged in significant community engagement programs to educate young people and the rest of the community on the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and to provide them with healthy alternatives.

Furthermore, thanks to the drug courts, access to detox and rehab facilities has become much easier. This means that addicted people who do not engage in criminal activity also have an increased awareness of where they can go to get help. Through these combined efforts, Richmond has seen a notable improvement in the levels of substance abuse, and particularly on the number of people who have been able to enter the road to recovery.