Drug addiction and criminal behavior are closely intertwined. Studies on opioid abuse, for example, show that the more you use, the more likely you are to engage in non-violent criminal actions. Violent crime tends to be associated more strongly with alcohol and sedatives.
In addition, it’s speculated that more than 60% of America’s prison population actively deals with a substance use disorder (SUD), and about 20% of people in jail were under the influence of substances when they committed a crime.
With all this in mind, St. Gregory’s locations in Bayard and Des Moines are gearing up for National Recovery Month (NRM). In recent years, NRM has taken place throughout September—with each passing year including a different theme.
In 2021, for example, the theme was Recovery is For Everyone. However, it seems that many people who are or have been in prison may not feel included in the term “everyone.”
This year, the theme is Every Person. Every Family. Every Community. This is the stance we take at St. Gregory: with or without a history of incarceration, everyone deserves treatment and the option to live life to the fullest in sobriety.
If we want our neighbors, parents, spouses, children, friends, family, coworkers, and celebrities to opt for treatment—then we should also want the same for anyone who has gone to prison.
Why Formerly Imprisoned People Suffer More Stigma When Seeking Treatment
People who struggle with addiction and have been imprisoned are working against two stigmas: addiction stigma and incarceration stigma. Addiction stigma can make people ashamed and wary of entering treatment, fearing it will mark them as unfit for employment or relationships. If people have been incarcerated, they’re forced to fight the public perception that once you’re a criminal, you’re always a criminal and always deserving of punishment.
Sadly, there seems to be little to no public empathy for those who have dealt with both addiction and incarceration. Incarceration stigma is more than capable of blocking people from better job opportunities and creating thicker paywalls to treatment and resources that non-convicted people have much more access to.
What Programs Does St. Gregory Offer To Formerly Convicted People With SUD?
All of our programs are available to all potential clients, regardless of their previous interactions with the law, sentences served, or criminal record. We refuse to discriminate against people who have been incarcerated. Doing so would add to the addiction crisis and cause more pain to everybody battling SUD. Some of our most effective treatment methods are proven to work well for both types of populations: those with SUD who have had experience living in prison and those who haven’t:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which works to create new neural pathways and behaviors that support sobriety and a crime-free lifestyle
- Equine therapy programs, a proven method that helps support people in their sobriety as they try to build coping strategies and healthy habits
- Residential/inpatient addiction treatment in Bayard, IA
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) in Des Moines for working people and caretakers
We also go a step further with our Tactical Recovery program, which is specifically tailored to all those first responders and military personnel who have served our country. At least 180,000 Veterans are incarcerated right now, and they deserve SUD treatment and resources upon their release.
Enter Residential Treatment For Addiction
Caring for former criminal offenders and parolees improves public safety and well-being. If you have SUD and have recently been released from prison or are supporting someone who has recently completed a jail sentence and is struggling with addiction, contact us. We’re not here to enforce stigma; we’re here to eradicate it while we help you pave the path to sobriety.
