SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEM REACHES HISTORIC HIGH

Substance abuse among probationers has reached an all-time high, according to a review of arraignment statistics compiled by the Research Department of the Office of the Commissioner of Probation. Probation recently assessed substance abuse among probationers from 1988 to 2006.

Eighty-six percent of offenders placed on probation supervision in the state’s District and Superior courts struggle with substance abuse issues. This figure is a 21 percent increase over the number of probationers with substance abuse issues in 1988.

“Substance abuse is the 800-pound gorilla that stalks our system. To change the behavior of probationers, we have to address the issue of substance abuse” said Chief Probation Officer Dan Ryan, a specialist in substance abuse treatment.

Substance abuse jumped from 66 percent in 1990 to 86 percent in 2006 among probationers (Chart attached ).

The problem did not improve in the new millennium. In 2000, 82 percent of people placed on probation were dependent on drugs and alcohol and this figure rose to its highest level, 86 percent, in 2006.

Drug use among people who were placed on probation jumped from 35 percent in 1988 to 73 percent in 2006. There was also a spike in alcohol abuse among probationers, from 38 percent in 1988 to 59 percent in 2006. While most people do not consider alcohol a drug, it is in fact a powerful drug.” Ryan said, “It is a depressant.”

Class D (marijuana) offenses have consistently been the most commonly arraigned drug offenses both today and in 1988, according to statistics provided by Probation’s Research Department. Statistics show 30 percent of all drug offenses in 2006 were Class D offenses.