When Legal Problems Lead to Long Term Drug Rehabilitation

According to some estimates, as many as 60% of people in long term drug rehabilitation programs have legal problems as a result of their addictions to drugs or alcohol. Many of those in recovery have entered under a court-ordered mandate to complete a rehab program, while others enter as a proactive measure – to clean up their lives and potentially reduce charges or jail sentences.

The good news is that many addicts do succeed in a court-ordered or influenced addiction program.  Studies have shown time and time again, that treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective. All addicts have the potential to relapse, and total, long lasting sobriety takes a lifetime commitment.

Proponents of court-ordered rehab believe that in spite of relapse percentages, these rehab stays can be effective. Relapse can occur even when clients enter voluntarily, and  abstinence rates are  relatively high among those that successfully complete all court ordered affordable rehab stays. Even if just a small percentage of addicts are given the necessary tools to recover from their addictions, the ultimate cost to the tax payer drops considerably –  estimates are that one tax dollar spent towards drug treatment yields a seven dollar tax savings to society at large.

For many struggling with the pain of dependence, admittance to a court ordered rehab program is eventually seen to be a great stoke of luck. Not only does mandated treatment allow the addict to sidestep incarceration, it also grants them access to comprehensive drug dependency treatment.

Statistics show that the motivation for entry into a program has little effect on the likelihood of  successful recovery, the odds that an addiction can be beaten once and for all through court-ordered drug rehab is fairly high. Full participation in court mandated long term aftercare also increases the odds of success and long term sobriety.

Drug court mandated drug rehab treatment is no guarantee of a future of sobriety, and some degree of relapse is to be expected. Addicts assigned to court ordered drug rehab and court funded drug and alcohol addiction treatment do have the opportunity to better their lives as well as avoid jail. Court ordered drug rehab operates as a needed lifeline to many struggling with addiction, and although most addicts don’t see it as a blessing when arrested, they are often ultimately grateful for  lifesaving treatment.

Court ordered or entry to drug rehab as a way to avoid jail time may not work in every case, but when it does, both the addict and society as a whole benefit. If addiction has caused legal problems for you or someone important to you, contact us today to learn more about drug rehab in California.