Federal Prison Sentence Reduction For Substance Abusers

                 Federal Prison Sentence Reduction For Substance Abusers

In the January, 2018 issue of The NATION’S HEALTH (a publication of the American Public Health Association), it was reported that “65% of the nation’s inmates meet certain medical criteria for substance abuse and addiction, but only 11% received treatment for their addictions.”  Of the roughly 2.3 million inmates, 458,000 inmates either had a substance abuse history, or were intoxicated or high during the commission of their crimes. According to the report, “Behind Bars II, Substance Abuse and America’s prison population, substance abusers comprise up to 85% of the U.S. prison population.  It also found that inmates with substance abuse problems are more likely to be incarcerated again, and twice as likely to have at least one parent who abused substances. 

It’s quite unfortunate and, frankly, a shame that only about 11% of inmates with substance abuse and addiction receive any kind of treatment.  That leaves a whole lot of people who need and can benefit from treatment who are left to fend for themselves.   They eventually get released back into society without having achieved a better understanding of the nature of their addiction, nor the skills for healthy living.  Many, if not most, of this population may have gone without alcohol and/or drugs during their incarceration but continue to suffer with cravings and lack a substantial plan for avoiding the triggers that will lead them back to self-medicating to avoid increased anxiety or stress, anxiety, depression or any other uncomfortable feelings.

Help With Getting Into RDAP

As a psychotherapist who specializes in treating addictions (alcohol and drugs), I have witnessed the catastrophic and life-altering impact of substance abuse. How having an addiction leads to a chemical hijacking of the brain’s reward centers which block natural occurring chemicals from regulating healthy thinking, emotional regulation and good physical health.  How this insatiable need to “feed the demon” leads many persons down the path of compulsion, poor impulse control and self-absorption as the part of the brain associated with analytical thinking and sound decision making basically shuts down.

As addictions contaminate a person’s mind, body and spirit through a vicious cycle of reward and avoidance of pain (both physical and emotional), relationships are neglected, sabotaged or destroyed; jobs, businesses, school or other vocational pursuits are abandoned; and plans or goals for a better life succumb to a constant need to keep one’s addiction under control.  Modest success at willpower may result in short efforts in abstaining or moderating one’s drug or alcohol use, but without guidance and coping skills for replacing the disease of addiction, one is left going back to the fallback or default position — namely, returning to substance use.

If you are experiencing problems associated with alcohol and/or drug use, if you’re self-medicating to avoid the pain of life, and if you’re currently faced with legal issues or the possibility of federal imprisonment, there is an intensive, 9-month, 500-hour Residential Drug Abuse Program (called “RDAP”) offered in the federal prison system that offers federal inmates a 1-year reduction on time served, with the possibility of an additional 6 months of community control.

Regardless of what phase of the legal system you’re currently involved with, give me a call so I can explain the benefits of RDAP and how to maximize your chance of admission to this most worthwhile and potentially life-changing Program. Call 561-404-1482 to set up a free phone consultation.