Saturday, August 08, 2009

Sobriety Programs Featured at Conference of Western Attorneys General Annual Meeting

The Conference of Western Attorneys General (CWAG) held their Annual Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, this week. Dr. Eric Goplerud, Executive Director of George Washington University’s Center for Integrated Behavior Health Policy, a non-profit supported by the Pew Charitable Trust, presented on alcohol misuse and crime. Dr. Goplerud attributed our high recidivism rates, in part, to the country’s failure to address alcohol dependence and addiction during pre-trial release and sentencing. He explained that chronic alcohol misuse diminishes cognitive skills, including reasoning, judgment, and memory. He noted that people can recovery some or all of these skills by maintaining abstinence and urged attendees to support appropriate screening and treatment, including brief interventions, cognitive therapy and the use of medications. South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long and Judge Steven Alm presented on two programs that effectively incorporate many of the principles Dr. Goplerud discussed: the South Dakota 24/7 Sobriety Program and the Hawaii Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) Program. Long and Alm presented the latest research demonstrating that their respective programs have dramatically reduced recidivism. Long also showed data indicating that the number of people killed in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle fatalities have plummeted in his state since the 24/7 Program’s inception and that the prison incarceration rates have stabilized after years of growth (Long could not attribute all of the improvements to the program, but it indicated that state officials believe that the program is at least partially responsible for the successes).

These programs, along with scientifically validated DWI and drug courts, prove that we can better protect the public, reduce recidivism, help offenders overcome their alcohol and drug problems and save tax dollars AT THE SAME TIME. While some offenders are (rightfully) incarcerated for decades or longer, most are not and many of those that are re-leased are re-arrested time and again. The simple fact is that that those with alcohol, drug and mental health issues won’t change their behavior until they overcome their issues. Pioneers like Judge Stanley Goldstein (drug courts), Long and Alm have shown us a better way. Isn’t it time to we learn from them, move past the traditional punitive approach and adopt a medical-legal approach?

Stephen K. Talpins
Chief Executive Officer
National Partnership on Alcohol Misuse and Crime