According to national statistics, there are more than two million people who are incarcerated in the United States. Many of those who are being held are in the criminal justice system because of substance abuse issues. In fact, according to FBI statistics, the majority of arrests are for some type of drug abuse violations, and one out of five people are being held for drug-related crimes.
Crime and Addiction
The statistics on drug addiction and its link to criminal offenses are overwhelming. In a report by the U.S. Bureau of Justice, it is estimated that more than 20 percent of all people who are being held in prisons and jails are there because the committed crimes in their attempt to get drugs. This comes to approximately a half million people who are incarcerated because of their drug addictions.
Mental Illness Defense
Drug addiction or dependency is a recognized mental illness that leads to a change in the addicted person’s brain, causing a shift in the normal prioritization of needs and desires. Not only is the addict in risk of dying from a possible overdose, but – as the above statistics show – they risk facing criminal charges and incarceration in their quest to obtain these substances.
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