Fund this drug treatment act

The proposed Drug Offender Reform Act, which would channel more resources toward drug rehabilitation programs such as drug courts, inmate evaluations and treatment, is a pricey proposition. But we also know that the societal costs of drug and alcohol addiction are overwhelming. As the Deseret Morning News' 2004 special report "Meth Emergency" illustrated, the personal toll of addiction is immeasurable.

SB22, sponsored by Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, aims to shift public policy from a crime and punishment model to one addressing the roots of a great deal of criminal behavior — drug and alcohol addiction. Some state estimates suggest 80 percent of people in Utah prisons and jails have a foundational drug problem that likely drove them to commit their respective crimes. Among women, the number jumps to 90 percent.

The Drug Offender Reform Act, or DORA, would mandate expanded screening and evaluations of inmates in FY 2007. Those deemed to have substance abuse problems would be funneled into treatment programs, with the goal of ridding them of the addictions that drive their criminal activity and drain child-welfare and public-assistance resources. Although the bill has passed both houses, legislative estimates say DORA's price tag is more than $6 million in ongoing money.

Understanding that there are many competing interests on Utah's Capitol Hill, $6 million-plus in ongoing funds is a lot of money. But considering that many public officials believe that county jails and state prisons have become revolving doors for inmates who serve their time only to return after committing crimes to support their drug habits, a new approach is warranted.

Utah's drug courts, which allow a treatment-first option to some drug offenders, have an impressive track record. Drug offenders who receive treatment have a 30 percent chance of reoffending, while convicts who undergo no drug treatment have a 60 percent rate of recidivism.

Obviously not all people who undergo treatment are successful in overcoming their addictions the first time through. Yet the alternative is to continue to cycle people through the criminal justice system, where they may or may not receive substance-abuse treatment. On the whole, those who receive treatment fare better than those who don't. Those who don't receive intensive screening and treatment continue to be a drain on public resources, not to mention a catalyst for more chaos within their own families.

As Buttars explains, Utah and the nation have been ill-served by the "get tough" approach on crime.

"It sounds good politically, but what we need to say is, 'Let's get smart on crime,' " Buttars told the Deseret Morning News.

He's right; a new approach is needed. While some may balk at the price tag, the price of inaction is more of the same — the revolving-door phenomenon in Utah's criminal justice system.