20 Years of Success May Not Save Oregon's Drug Courts

Addiction treatment budget cuts are among those proposed as the state deals with what's estimated to be a $4-billion budget shortfall over the next couple of years.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The nation's drug courts celebrate their 20th anniversary this month as the alternative to incarceration that is also designed to save taxpayers money.

The second-oldest drug court in the country is Oregon's Multnomah County program, which, like the dozens of other drug courts around the state, is in jeopardy because of the state's economic crisis.

Denise Welch, communications director for Oregon's Partnership for Safety and Justice, says the programs reduce crime and substance abuse, while saving taxpayers money.

"Oregon might make nearly $100 million worth of cuts to community-based addiction treatment in the coming months, but drug courts just don't work without access to treatment."

The drug court model depends on that local addiction treatment, along with the oversight of a judge to allow people to avoid a drug-related conviction and give them a chance to turn their lives around.

Addiction treatment budget cuts are among those proposed as the state deals with what's estimated to be a $4-billion budget shortfall over the next couple of years.

It can cost $100 a day to keep a person in a county jail, says Welch, while it costs under $10 a day to educate, treat and rehabilitate someone through a drug court. She hopes that money-saving comparison can help save funding for addiction treatment.

"Cutting effective programs that not only reduce crime but save dollars seems like a step in the wrong direction. We're hoping Oregon doesn't turn its back on 20 years of success."

There are almost 2,000 drug courts across the country.

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Oregon News Service