My name is Samantha and I am from Delaware County PA. Addiction has been an issue within my family. I have a brother, who is in recovery and I also lost 2 uncles to drug overdoses, among other family members. I try my best to be an advocate for drug awareness and I  hold an annual Overdose awareness vigil, where ive had government officials come to speak on the topic.

It seems to be a reoccurring thing that when a drug addict is caught with possession of drugs they are not offered help/treatment but are thrown into Jail.

Recently someone very close to me was arrested. They were caught with with drugs. This person was also on probation from a non drug related charge. The officer that arrested my person wanted him to get help and said that they could send him directly to treatment but they needed to discuss this with his probation officer first. Even though treatment was waiting for him his probation officer said for him to be transported to the county jail.

Addiction needs to be treated as a disease and the underlining issue needs to be addressed. Throwing someone in jail and criminalizing them for having substance abuse issues will not help them in their recovery process and is inhumane. Especially since there is no structure , not enough recovery programs, the correctional officers are bringing in the drugs (I could go on forever) in the county jail.

-"Approximately 95 percent of incarcerated addicts will return to substance abuse after their release from prison."

-Last year over 70,000 people died from overdoses.

-According to statistics 95% of inmates that pass away after being released from jail are due to overdoses.

So what are we going to do to help the familys , the children  the sisters the brothers, THE STILL SICK AND SUFFERING ADDICT?

They need treatment not jail! Please help the cause and sign this petition and share the hell out of this!!