Around 60% of the incarcerated population in the United States have substance use disorder. The majority of this population is not offered or given treatment for their disorder. Of this population many are non-violent and/or first time offenders. When these offenders are placed in prison they are offered very minimal and mostly peer-based. This means that when they are released they have not been given any skills to help them cope or stay sober. When someone with an addiction has been away from substances their tolerance lowers, this means that upon release these people have a higher risk of overdose than normal. Without being given any help or skills to keep them sober they often end up back in prison creating a never ending cycle. 

"While 60% of incarcerated individuals have substance abuse disorder, only 10% receive treatment in prison"

What if instead of punishing these offenders, we required them to attend treatment facilities in order to help them with their substance abuse? This would give the people a fighting chance to end their addictions. It would also lower the number of people in prison for non-violent crimes. Requiring treatment instead of an arrest would help lower the number of overdoses upon release and help with the overall number of drug users nationwide. If we can help these offenders instead of punishing them we begin to put an end to the addiction to prison cycle. 

A quote from a political leader in Canada who proposed to implement this idea sums up the issue pretty well. -

"When someone is too sick to choose help, we won't leave them without hope. We'll help them take back control of their lives." -Poilievre