For centuries, the government along with the medical community fought for a drug-free society. In collaboration with both parties, they formed different initiative and campaign to fight drug addiction. From setting strict guidelines in making pharmaceutical, to securing the US border. The US Food and Drug Administration scrutinizes each and every drug for any probability of triggering drug addiction. While law enforcers battle the frontlines to seized these illegal drugs from reaching the US streets.
Another battle
But there’s another battle hidden in plain sight. Drug addiction is an endless cycle of cravings and getting high, but relapse deems more dangerous than the latter. Relapse often occurs just when addicts thought they are getting better. Just a split second decision of giving into the cravings and living a healthy lifestyle drug addiction can start over again.
The state of Pennsylvania recognizes such threats. Lawmakers of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania aims to a lower number of people suffering from a relapse. Here’s what they take on this issue:
“LEWISBURG, PA. — Wait time is an enemy of addiction recovery and too often, a delay of days or weeks between leaving jail and landing an open spot in a rehab program is enough to facilitate a relapse.
Union County launched a relapse prevention education program at its jail in April towards helping inmates stay sober upon release before beginning therapy.
Six inmates attend 90-minute sessions over eight weeks with a drug and alcohol counselor from White Deer Run in Lewisburg. The program has room for up to eight inmates each session – almost 22 percent of the 37-inmate capacity of the all-male jail. They’re referred for relapse education if substance use issues are detected upon intake.
Inmates undergo cognitive behavioral therapy, according to Roy Stickler, the White Deer Run counselor running the evidence-based program. They study stages of change, from the initial stage of not recognizing one’s addiction exists to the final stage of maintaining sobriety.
“Teaching to change the way we think and to be better able to react, deal with feelings so we’re not continuing to repeat the same behaviors,” Stickler said. “The hope is after these gentlemen finish the relapse group, they’ll get stepped into an outpatient service.”
Scott Kerstetter, Union County’s deputy chief probation officer, said the danger of relapse is heightened for inmates who have a weakened physical tolerance but inclination to use the same dose of heroin or prescription painkillers they used before being locked up.
“Their bodies did not respond. We’ve had overdoses. I know we’ve had some deaths,” Kerstetter said.
A county jail as small as Union County’s allows for easier recall of names and faces.”
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