When I was younger both of my parents struggled with addiction. I myself saw firsthand the effects addiction can have on individuals, and families. My mother was incarcerated for drug possession but jail time did nothing to help her overcome her addiction. When she was released nothing had changed she was still struggling with addiction. Years later she started her recovery programs at rehab, after multiple failed attempts she finally got the right help that helped her heal.

My father also Battled addiction and overdosed multiple times. His life was in danger, and just like my mother it wasn't jail or punishment that helped him, It was access to real treatment. Rehab was life changing for both of my parents. Incarceration was not.

We shouldn't treat people who are suffering like criminals. That's why I am calling on our local and state leaders to adopt policies that prioritize rehabilitation over incarceration for non violent drug offenses. People deserve the chance to recover, not just be punished.

Every year around 375,000 people are incarcerated for non violent drug related crimes.This represents 19% of the total prison population. The average cost to incarcerate a person for 1 year is roughly 35,000$, while on the other hand rehabilitation costs anywhere from 4,000-30,000$. If all addicted individuals that were charged with non violent drug related crimes got put into rehab instead of prison the USA would save roughly $40,000,000,000 annually. Not only does it save money for the government but it also gives people hope.

My solution to this issue would be to divert non violent drug offenders to mandatory treatment programs instead of incarceration.

How this works: When someone is arrested for non-violent drug possession or use, they are offered access to a rehabilitation or addiction treatment program instead of being sent to jail. This program would include detox, counseling, therapy, and long term support. Participation would be mandatory, supervised, and progress would be monitored by health professionals. Charges could be dropped or reduced based on the outcome of rehab. 

Addiction won’t go away on its own but with the right support, people can and do recover. Let's stop filling our jails with people who need help. Let’s invest in treatment, not punishment.

Please sign this petition if you believe in second chances, and a smarter more humane approach to addiction.

Here is a link to reliable information on Drug Incarceration and Rehabilitation: https: //www.peacevalleyrecovery.com/blog/rehab-vs-jail-time/