WASHINGTON 鈥� During the crack-cocaine epidemic in the 80s and early 90s, the inception of drug treatments courts offered drug-users a treatment-based alternative to prison. And now, in the throes of a new epidemic, drug treatment courts continue to be vital as the U.S. battles the opioid crisis.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 save everyone. But drug courts have served to give so many a lifeline they wouldn鈥檛 have had otherwise,鈥� said Terrence Walton, chief operating officer for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP).
Walton said drug court professionals from across the country are on the front lines in the opioid battle.
is holding its 23rd annual training conference this week at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. More than 5,000 drug court professionals are attending the weeklong event, representing adult, family and juvenile drug courts as well as veterans鈥� treatment courts.
鈥淎 lot that happens in this conference is based on best practices to increase the likelihood we鈥檒l be giving people what they need to get better,鈥� said Walton.
Walton believes it鈥檚 a better alternative to publicly fund drug treatment so people wouldn鈥檛 have to get arrested in order to get help. He said people sent to drug courts are not hardened criminals but people whose addiction or mental health issues have caused their collision with the justice system.
鈥淢any individuals in treatment courts, this is really their only opportunity to access services. I wish that wasn鈥檛 true,鈥� Walton said.
While drug treatment courts have been around almost 30 years, the veterans鈥� treatment courts have only been around since the last decade, according to Walton. The veterans鈥� treatment courts are specifically for veterans who are living with addiction or PTSD and who have been arrested, driven by their addictions or mental health conditions.
Walton said the treatment courts are the single most successful intervention in our country鈥檚 history for people with mental health issues or substance abuse issues.
