Actress Lindsay Lohan returned to jail today for failing a drug test. This is her third time she has been locked up for violating the terms of her probation stemming from her 2007 conviction for DUI and drug charges. There is no doubt that she has a problematic relationship with alcohol and other drugs - but what she needs is access to an effective drug treatment program, not a "skid bid," to help her with her drug problems.
In my experience doing a 12-year sentence for a nonviolent drug law violation, I witnessed hundreds of drug addicted people cycle in and out of the prison I was in. Like Lohan, many were given "skid bids," slang for a short sentence, usually measured in months instead of years and meant to help them with drug problems.
But it's well established that incarcerating people who use drugs does far more harm than good. It does nothing to treat addiction, it's much more expensive than real treatment, and it's an affront to human rights and civil liberties. Our drug policies fail to account for the fact that drug use is a health issue and that relapse is an expected part of the recovery process.
Lohan is just one of hundreds of thousands of people in the United States who will spend the night locked in a cage for their drug problems. She has admitted that she has a problem. In recent posts on her Twitter account she wrote, "Substance abuse is a disease, which unfortunately doesn't go away over night," and "I am working hard to overcome it and am taking positive steps." Taking responsibility one's actions is a powerful step in the right direction.
But unfortunately our government and the powers that be continue to lock up people with drug addictions instead of giving them treatment. I think that most fail to realize is that relapse is an expected part of recovery. Treatment is valid for fighting the demons of addiction and an effective tool in overcoming the government's use of incarceration and punitive measures in response to low-level, nonviolent drug law offenses stemming from addiction.
According to Justice Department statistics, the United States holds a firm lead in maintaining the most prisoners of any country in the world, now at 2.3 million, including 500,000 for drugs. Criminal justice experts attribute the exploding U.S. prison population to harsh sentencing laws and record numbers of drug law offenders, many of whom have substance abuse problems.
Should we treat drug addiction as a criminal matter or a medical problem? For most people, treatment is much more effective than incarceration for breaking their addictions, yet our prisons are full of drug-addicted individuals. Nonviolent drug offenders should be given an opportunity to receive treatment, not jail time, for their drug use. This would be a more effective and a much more affordable solution for the individual and the community.
Our 40-year war on drugs has stifled the open debate this country should be having about addiction and how best to deal with it. It is time to treat addiction for what it is, a medical problem, not a criminal one.
Anthony Papa is the author of 15 to Life and the Manager of Media Relations for the Drug Policy Alliance
Follow Anthony Papa on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AnthonyPapa
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I believe the errant OCD diagnosis and the damage done is the real Lohan story.
2010 was the FIRST TIME the court ordered a qualified medical diagnoses (from UCLA) to corroborate rehab treatment. UCLA determined she did NOT have OCD! And that taking Adderall for years actually caused her erratic/manic behavior and stimulant dependency!!
The rehab clinics actually Administered, as well as, Filled her Adderall prescriptions- guaranteeing the need for future Rehab (this time for Adderall and Related stimulants).
And in Lindsay Lohan's case, I think the judge is trying to keep her on probation, but to give her quick dips in jail if she uses, like drug court judges do often. It would actually be more effective to do an intermediate sanction, like electronic monitoring or a curfew, but the judge is keeping her on probation and is just giving her a short stint probably, rather than just revoking her probation and having her serve out her sentence.
Anyway, I think part of the problem is that people only see the high profile cases. People see less of the common, everyday cases.
We have lots of people just recycling through our court system. It's obvious that our court system is ineffective in keeping these people from committing more crimes. Our court system may actually be contributing to keeping these people recycling and committing more crimes. This may seem counter-intuitive to many people. People think that jail helps stop people from committing crimes. It may have the opposite effect, particularly for younger and low-risk offenders.
There is a large body of research about what actually does work in preventing recidivism, but this is largely ignored. Political factors drive policy, so what works rarely enters into the debate.
You can play chess with the goal if not losing, rather than winning. Likewise, you can approach the problem of addiction and drug abuse with the goal of not being consumed, rather than achieving a life free of drug use.
After some good habits of moderation have been learned, the patient is that much closer to going drug free. It's the drug-binge behavior and the high frequency of use behavior which really consume a user.
My ideal drug rehab center would involve drug use in order to help people learn moderation with real substances, not just talk. Let them go ahead and have a little coke if that's what they're addicted to. See how your judgment is affected, how you begin to puff up into a state of irrational exuberance and overconfidence.
Most users of every single recreational drug take much more than the minimum amount required for a noticeable high. The "dealer's dose" is usually four times more than ideal because they're in the business of marketing, not just providing drugs. Addicts make better customers.
Also, when the dealer sells a quantity in the minimum amount, they always want to sell enough that the most jaded addict won't come back screaming that it was a scam. Therefore, a single user's dose is enough for the most jaded addict to get a kick.
a Disease is defined by external factors over which you have little or no control. It's also treatable with medication . The addiction is defined by your own personality . Only YOU can decide to quit and get rid of the addiction ( with or without assistance doesn't matter,in the end it's the addict himself or herself and all alone who quits ) ,there is no magic wand or medication which will do that for you.
It would be better if the total sentence be spent in a rehab clinic . And it would be wise for her to remain there until she's recovered ( she should be the only one knowing when that is ) .You can still have a relapse years down the road but you can't assume that when starting with the program . Most of all she needs to be honest to herself about it though ( fans,family ,media and what have you is totally insignificant when it comes to this ) and I'm still in doubt if she is . a Judicial system which treats addicts as criminals is flawed in the extreme though, I agree .
This sounds like Buyer's Remorse to me over someone else being the beneficiary of their own policy stance.
Can she really accomplish recovery while still in a stage of rebellion?
She will be sentenced again for contempt of a court order, the nature of the order is irrelevant.
Lohan believes she is above the law, THAT much is clear.
Her drug problem is HER problem.
When she steals a car with passengers IN THE cars while on on alcohol and cocaine and instigates a high speed chase clear across the freeways of LA, rolling over a person's foot, on a suspended license AND on probation, she is a danger to hundreds. THAT is OUR problem.
She SHOULD be in jail for several crimes. However, we know she pled,a nd will neve serve over 30 days.
The above is fact.
My opinion: she is not an addict, she is a self-indulgent narcissistic surrounded by yes people, celeb worshippers, and white trash parents. In Lohan's mind there is NO reason to obey any law.
In a better world she would serve the 6 months and at least learn there are repercussions to endangering the lives of others.
Those are all reasons to GO TO JAIL, but at the very least take this train-wreck's license away before she kills someone other than herself.
If you proven you can't stay sober, you shouldn't be allowed to drive, right?
People say she should be able to do all the drugs she wants with no consequences, or be able to do drugs with supervision or do drugs and not be allowed to drive. These 'solutions' require a monitor/keeper on 24/7 watch. Who'll pay for that? Seriously, who can stop someone from driving if they really want to?
This woman doesn't respect boundaries, hasn't respect for the law and feels entitled to do as she wishes because she's famous and has money. She may have an addiction or she may just like drugs when she's partying. UCLA rehab center seems to think she's well enough to be discharged without a 90day rehab program.
Your comment "Nonviolent drug offenders should be given an opportunity to receive treatment, not jail time, for their drug use" doesn't apply to her. Her charges as previously listed, do not seem non-violent. Her actions seem highly dangerous and irresponsible. IMO, jail time AND then rehab would be the best way to treat this woman's problems.
Anyone else would be in jail for what she did. Or, if lucky enough to have a good lawyer, in rehab. She has already done rehab 4? 5? times now. It's not working. She is a danger to the public. She is responsible for her actions. Find a better answer.
Lindsay Lohan has her freedom back after posting bail from an LA-area jail, hours after a judge ordered the actress held without bail for failing a drug test. http://www.newslook.com/videos/253097-lohan-freed-from-la-jail-after-posting-bail?autoplay=true
I would like to believe that deep down there is good in everyone. This young woman has possibilities just like anyone else if people would quit trying to "help" her. There's a lot of work to be done here to get good results.
So she’s 3000 miles from her family, with anxiety and dependency sickness, and was not kept in the Rehab clinic for the time required!? Currently her only support is her LA "friends"
It defies common sense- unless the goal is the continued support of the Tabloid industry.