>> OF THE TWO AND HALF MILLION PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN AMERICA, NEARLY HALF OF THEM ARE IN JAIL BECAUSE OF DRUG USE AND ADDICTION.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 3,000 DRUG COURTS ACROSS THE NATION TO HELP THOSE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS GET AND STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LAW.

WE'RE ON LOCATION IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, TALKING WITH THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DRUG COURT PROFESSIONALS ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF DRUG COURTS AND HELPING ADDICTS RECOVER AND REDUCE CRIME.

THAT'S NOW ON "CONNECTIONS."

TERRENCE, WELCOME.

THANK YOU HAVE VERY MUCH FOR JOINING FIRST IN BALTIMORE.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND SPEAKING WITH US.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> IN CALIFORNIA I'M SURE THERE WERE A LOT OF BEST PRACTICES DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND ADDICTIONS.

ANYTHING NEW COME OUT OF THAT CONFERENCE THAT YOU THINK THE GENERAL PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO KNOW?

>> WELL, THERE ARE LOTS OF IMPORTANT STUFF THAT HAPPENED THERE AND BUT WHAT SENDS MOST OUT TO ME IS THE EMPHASIS WE PLACED ON REFORM, RECOVERY, AND RESULTS.

RESULTS PART IS EASY.

IT EMPHASIZED THE FACT THAT DRUG COURTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

THAT WE BEGAN LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF WHAT WORKS.

THE REFORM PIECE REALLY DEALS WITH THE FACT THAT DRUG COURTS REALLY ARE THE FOUNDATION OF JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SESSIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW DO DRUG COURTS WORK TO HELP TO REVERSE MASS INCARCERATION AND BE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE REAL ISSUES THAT UNDERLIE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE SEE.

BUT THE PIECE I THINK THAT'S MOST RELEVANT TODAY IS THE EMPHASIS BE PLACED ON RECOVERY, ESPECIALLY RECOVERY THAT SUPPORTED BY MEDICATIONS IN ADDITION TO PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENT.

WE A HAVE A MAJOR SESSION FOR ATTENDEES THAT NO ONE HAD TO COME TO, BUT IT WAS PACKED EVEN IN THE MORNING, PEOPLE CAME TO HEAR FROM SEVERAL ADDICTION PSYCHIATRISTS ABOUT HOW TO STRENGTHEN THE MEDICATION SYSTEM PROTOCOLS THAT NOW EXIST AND FOR THOSE ARE STILL TRYING TO DEVELOP ONE, HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SO THERE WAS LOTS WE WERE HAPPY ABOUT BUT I WAS MOST HEARTENED BY THE RESPONSE FROM DRUG COURT PETITIONERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT.

>> AND I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER ON IN OUR CONVERSATION.

BACK UP A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT THE TWO AND A HALF MILLION AMERICANS INCARCERATED IN THIS COUNTRY, HOW MANY DO WE KNOW ARE BEHIND BARS BECAUSE OF DRUG ADDICTION?

>> WELL, THE ESTIMATES ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE BUT THE ONES THAT I HAVE SEEN THAT ARE MOST CONSISTENT ARE ABOUT 1.2 MILLION AMERICANS ARE IN PRISON TODAY WHO HAVE DRUG ADDICTION.

>> THAT'S ALMOST HALF.

>> THAT'S ALMOST HALF.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- THERE'S LOTS OF REASONS WHY THAT'S NOT OKAY BUT FROM DOLLARS AND CENTS, THE STATES ARE SPENDING, I UNDERSTAND, A COLLECTIVE $0 BILLION IN CORRECTIONS, AND A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT IS FOR PEOPLE THERE LARGELY BECAUSE OF BEHAVIORS THAT THEY ARE ASSOCIATED SOMEHOW WITH THEIR DRUG ADDICTION.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE WAR ON DRUGS, THAT LEXICON THAT REALLY PICKED UP STEAM IN THE 1980s AND 1990s, DO YOU THINK THAT THAT IS A FAILED POLICY, AND ARE WE MOVING AWAY FROM THE PUNITIVE ACTIONS OF THOSE WHO HAVE ADDICTIONS, NOT TREATING THEM AS CRIMINALS BUT TREATING THEM WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES THAT THEY NEED?

DO YOU SEE THAT SHIFT ACROSS THE NATION?

>> RENEE, I DO SEE THAT SHIFT.

AND I THINK THAT THE WAR ON DRUG, I BELIEVE IT WAS WELL INTENTIONED.

I GREW UP IN THE -- YOU KNOW AS A YOUNG MAN IN THE '0s AND I EXPERIENCED -- IN THE '0s AND EXPERIENCED WITH WITNESSED WITH MY OWN EYES THE HARM DONE THROUGH THE INFLUX OF DRUGS AND THE CRACK COCAINE EPIDEMIC AND ALL THAT CAME WITH THAT AND I SAW FAMILIES TORN APART AND PEOPLE'S LIVES SHATTERED AND CHILDREN LEFT FENDING FOR THEMSELVES AND I SAW THE HARM AND I GET THE INTENTION BUT I THINK THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAR ON DRUGS ENDED UP WITH BECOMING SORT OF A WAR ON DRUG USERS AND PEOPLE WHO WERE LIVING WITH ADDICTION AS OPPOSED TO THE DRUGS THEM -- THEMSELVES THAT WASN'T THE INTENTION THAT WAS THE RESULT.

AND SO FRANKLY DRUG COURTS, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPED DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME IN THE LATE 1980s, EARLY '90S SORT OF OF AS AN ANSWER TO THIS UNINTENDED IMPACT ON THE WAR ON DRUGS SO WE HAVE TO FIND A NEW WAY TO REFERENCE OUR APPROACH TO THIS BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A GROWING CONSENSUS NOW.

DRUG COURTS BELIEVE THIS FROM THE BEGINNING, BUT THERE IS A GROWING CONSENSUS NOW ACROSS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, COAST TO COAST, ACROSS BOTH PARTIES, THAT WE NEED ANOTHER APPROACH THAT EMPHASIZES ADDICTION BEING THE BRAIN-BASED DISORDER THAT WE KNOW IT IS AND FINDING SMART EFFECTIVE COMPASSIONATE STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH IT.

>> AND GETTING BACK THAT HISTORY PIECE, IN 1999 FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD, THERE WAS A JUDGE IN FLORIDA WHO TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE CALL HIM IN KENTUCKY FREQUENT FLYERS, WE'RE CONSTANTLY -- WERE CONSTANTLY COMING BEFORE HIM FOR DRUG CHARGES.

THEY WERE NOT VIOLENT CRIMES AND THAT'S WHEN HE THOUGHT, OKAY, SOMETHING TO CHANGE HERE THAT WE JUST CAN'T KEEP A WAREHOUSING THESE INDIVIDUALS AND DOING THE SAME THING WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE.

THAT'S DEFINITION OF INSANITY AND SINCE 1989, HOW HAVE YOU SEEN DRUG COURTS EVOLVE AND SPECIALTY COURTS.

NOW WE HAVE THEM FOR VETERANS.

MENTAL HEALTH COURTS, ALL OF THAT STEM FROM THIS DRUG COURT MOVEMENT, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

AGAIN THIS ALL BEGAN IN 1989, AND IT HAS GROWN SINCE THEN.

WHAT WE -- YOU KNOW, WHEN DRUG COURTS FIRST STARTED OUT, WE WEREN'T QUITE SURE WHO THEY WOULD WORK BEST FOR SO WE OFFERED THEM TO PRIMARILY AS A MECHANISM FOR EARLY DIVERSION FOR DIVERSION FOR LOWER LEVEL OFFENDERS.

OVER TIME, AS THE MODEL HAS GROWN, AND RESEARCH HAS DEVELOPED, WE HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT THE DRUG COURTS, THERE CERTAINLY IS A ROLE FOR A DRUG COURT AS AA DIVERSION OPTION BUT THAT DRUG COURTS GET THE BEST RESULTS AND ARE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WHEN ACTUALLY USED WITH INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH MORE SIGNIFICANT CRIMES.

AND HAVE A MORE SIGNIFICANT HISTORY WHO ARE ALSO DRUG ADDICTED.

>> WHAT DO YOU DEFINE AS A SIGNIFICANT CRIME?

>> WELL THIS INCLUDES CRIMES THAT INVOLVE VIOLENCE, CRIMES CLASSIFIED AS DANGEROUS OR VIOLENT AND THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, OFFENSES OR CRIMES THAT A PERSON'S OWN RELEASE SO NOT PEOPLE ALREADY LOCKED UP BUT THEY ARE ON RELEASE AND AWAITING TRIAL OR ON RELEASE HAVING BEEN PLACED ON PROBATION OR PAROLE FOR PERHAPS AN ASSAULT CHARGE OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OR SOME OF THE MORE SERIOUS OFFENSES, AND AT THE BEGINNING, DRUG COURT DIDN'T ACCEPT THOSE SO TODAY WE NOW KNOW THAT DRUG COURTS CAN BE MOST EFFECTIVE WITH THAT POPULATION.

SO, THAT'S -- WE SORT OF LEARN BETTER WHO THE TARGET POPULATION IS, AND WE HAVE ALSO LEADERSHIPPED THAT WE CAN APPLY THE SAME -- LEARNED THAT WE CAN APPLY THE SAME MODEL THAT INVOLVE AS JUDGE AND A TEAM THAT SUPPORTS THAT JUDGE, A GROUP OF TREATMENT PROVIDERS WHO DETERMINE THROUGH ASSESSMENT WHAT IS MOST NEEDED TO HELP ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING BRAIN-BASED DISORDER OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL ILLNESS AND THAT WHOLE TEAMWORKING REALLY AROUND HELPING TO KEEP THAT PERSON ENGAGED IN TREATMENT, LONG ENOUGH FOR TREATMENT TO WORK.

SO WE HAVE LEARNED BETTER WHO DRUG COURTS WORK FOR.

AND WE HAVE LEARNED BETTER HOW DRUG COURTS WORK, AND WE CAN EXPAND THIS TO OTHER ISSUES LIKE FOCUSING ON DWI OF CONCERNED FOCUSING ON THE VETERANS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, LIKE FOCUSING ON PARENTS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR CHILDREN OR AT RISK FOR LOSING THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THEIR SUBSTANCE ADDICTION SO THERE HAS BEEN LOTS OF VARIATIONS TO THIS, AND MORE COMING.

>> YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT OF THE CRITICISMS OF DRUG COURTS, I'M SURE, SOFT ON CRIME, HUG A THUG PROGRAM APPROACH, IS IT TRUE THAT DRUG COURT IS REALLY HARDER FOR CRIMINALS THAN ACTUALLY SERVING JAIL TIME, AND MO WHO IS NOT FOR?

YOU HAVE MENTIONED IT HAS EVOLVED TO INCLUDE SOME OF THESE, I GUESS YOU CALL THEM VIOLENT OFFENDERS BUT WHO IS NOT FOR?

WHO WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE?

>> WELL, LISTEN, A LOT OF PARTICIPANTS HAVE SAID TO US, PARTICIPANTS GRADUATING SAID THIS IS THE HARDEST TIME I HAVE EVER DONE.

IT WAS TOUGH AND NOT EASY TO GET THROUGH.

>> IT IS VOLUNTEER.

>> IT IS VOLUNTARY.

AND IN EVERY CASE IT IS VOLUNTARY AND PARTICIPANTS KNOW GOING INTO IT WHAT THEY ARE GETTING INTO BUT MANY OF THEM FRANKLY ARE SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED AND THEY HAVE SEEN DRUG COURT WORK FOR PEOPLE THEY HAVE KNOWN FOR THEIR WHOLE LIFE WHO WERE BATTLING ADDICTION OR NOT BATTLING ADDICTION RIGHT ALONGSIDE THEM.

THEY WOULD WATCH THEM GO THROUGH A PROGRAM LIKE DRUG COURT AND HAVE LIVES TRANSFORMED.

GOT JOBS AND FAMILY BACK AND THEY WANT SOME OF THAT.

AND SO, IT IS A TOUGH PROGRAM.

IT REQUIRES A LOT.

YOU KNOW, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT, RENEE, TO MOVE FROM A LIFE THAT HAS BECOME CENTERED AROUND EITHER GETTING HIGH, OR GETTING OVER BEING HIGH, OR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET YOUR NEXT FIX.

IT IS HARD TO MOVE FROM THAT TO SOMETHING THAT IS FREE OF THAT AND FOCUSED ON YOUR WHOLE SET OF GOALS AND A WHOLE NEW WAY OF LIVING.

THAT'S REAL DIFFICULT TO DO.

AND SO IT IS -- IT IS NOT EASY.

IT GETS BETTER EVENTUALLY BUT IT IS NOT EASY AT THE BEGINNING AND SO FOLKS WHO GO THROUGH DRUG COURT OFTEN DESCRIBE HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO GIVE UP SOMETHING THAT THEY NEEDED TO SURVIVE.

BUT THE SUPPORT OF THE DRUG COURT TEAM, THE SUPPORT OF PARTICIPANTS HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE.

NOW, THE REALITY IS, THAT ADDICTION CAN BE TREATED AND IS TREATED IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

AND FRANKLY, IF WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MAYBE HAD A BRUSH WITH THE LAW, BUT THEY ARE ASSESSED AND DEMONSTRATE THEY CAN BE DIVERTED TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SITS SYSTEM AND DO JUST FINE, THROWS WHAT WE CALL LOW RISK INDIVIDUALS, HAVE AN ADDICTION, HIGH NEED BUT LOW RISK AND THAT'S WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.

IT IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE, AND SMARTER TO TREAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ABLE TO GO TO TREATMENT, TO BE SUCCESSFUL THERE ON THEIR OWN, WITHOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF A JUDGE OR A PROBATION OFFICER.

DRUG COURTS WERE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THROUGH THE HISTORY, AND THROUGH A VALID ASSESSMENT THEY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND STRUCTURE AND ACCOUNTABILITY SO THEY CAN GET BETTER AND SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN BE SAFE WHILE THEY ARE DOING SO.

SO DRUG COURTS ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE TREATMENT, STICK WITH IT, AND AVOID CRIMINAL ACTIVITY SO PEOPLE WE SEE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE AWFUL PEOPLE, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE CAREER CRIMINALS, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE LIVING WITH AN ADDICTION THAT KEEPS TRIPPING THEM UP.

>> AND THEY ARE TRUE ADDICTS.

I KNOW THAT WORD IS -- WE'RE MOVING AWAY FROM THAT LANGUAGE, BUT IT IS NOT JUST A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD THAT THERE SOME COMMITMENT.

I WANT TO MOVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS TEAM APPROACH, KIND OF INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT SURROUNDS THESE FOLKS.

THERE IS SOME QUESTION ABOUT A JUDGE TAKING ON THE ROLE OF A PHYSICIAN OR OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, THAT THEY ARE BECOMING -- THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GUARDIANS OF THE LAW, NOT GUARDIANS OF HEALTH IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

AND, THEM CROSSING THAT ROLE OF BEING ALMOST A PHYSICIAN AND PRESCRIBING TREATMENT.

IS THAT A SENSIBLE APPROACH?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WHICH IS A MISCONCEPTION ABOUT WHAT DRUG COURTS DO.

THE REALITY IS THAT, TREATMENT PROVIDERS WHO WERE TRAINED AND EQUIPPED TO BOTH ASSESS ACCURATELY THE DEGREE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER AND DEGREE OF ADDICTION AND THE PROPER COURSE THAT WILL LEAD TOWARD RECOVERY, TREATMENT PROVIDERS MAKE DECISIONS IN DRUG COURTS ABOUT TREATMENT.

THE DRUG COURT, THE JUDGE'S ROLE IS TO HEAR THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND TO REITERATE TO THE PARTICIPANT THAT THEY NEED TO COMPLY WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND TO USE THE ENTIRE TEAM TO HELP THAT PROCESS ALONG.

SO JUDGES HAVE AREAS OF SPECIALTY, IT IS NOT AN ADDICTION SCIENCE AND IT SHOULDN'T BE.

SO DRUG COURTS THAT FUNCTION WELL ARE VERY CLEAR THAT TREATMENT PROVIDERS BASED ON A VALID ASSESSMENT FRANKLY IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PARTICIPANT MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF TREATMENT.

>> AND DRUG COURTS HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS YOU VERY WELL KNOW Mr.

WALTON, AS A CARROT AND STICK APPROACH THAT THERE ARE INCENTIVES AND THERE ARE SANCTIONS.

>> SURE.

>> TELL US ABOUT THAT.

AND DOES IT SOMEHOW LEAD TO SOME WHO MAYBE WOULD HAVE PLEAD TO A LESSER CHARGE IN THE BEGINNING?

DOES IT PERHAPS CAUSE THEM ON THE END TO SERVE MORE TIME?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF OBSERVATIONS ABOUT DRUG.

MOST ARE OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE THERE IS CRITICISM, SOME OF WHICH IS JUST OUTLANDISH.

AND SOME OF WHICH HAS SOME JUSTIFICATION TO IT AND ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE IN THE DRUG COURT WORLD, IS BEING SURE THAT DRUG COURTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE ADMINISTERING INCENTIVES AND SANCTIONS ACCORDING TO WHAT RESEARCH SAYS WORKS.

AND THIS IS WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US AND THIS IS NOT NEW RESEARCH, THIS IS OLD RESEARCH GOING BACK TO, YOU KNOW, THE EARLY 1900s WHEN WE FIGURING OUT THOUSAND DO BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.

WE KNOW THAT DRUG COURTS THAT WORK WELL, ESPECIALLY WORKING WITH MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SEVERE SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS, THEY USE WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO, THEIR BRAIN IS ALTERED AND DIFFERENT SO THAT THE EVEN WHEN THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO REMAIN CLEAN, THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO THAT RELIABLY.

WHEN DEALING WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND AS WELL AS THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, THAT THE APPROACH THAT MOST ALTERED BEHAVIOR IS ONE THAT IS HEAVY ON INCENTIVES, AS WELL AS HEAVY ON TREATMENT.

SO THAT MEANS THAT, INDIVIDUALS ARE ENCOURAGED THROUGH VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL WAYS OF SAYING YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

AND ALSO IT MEANS THE TREATMENT IS TAILORED TO RESPOND TO WHAT THEY ACTUALLY NEED.

NOW, AND FRANKLY, WHAT THE RESEARCH TELLS US IS THAT, FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO INDEED HAS THIS BRAIN-BASED DISORDER THAT WE'VE GROWN TO CALL ADDICTION, THAT THE ONLY SANCTION THEY SHOULD EVER FACE, OF ANY SEVERITY, LIKE A JAIL SANCTION OR SOMETHING ALONG THAT NATURE, SHOULD ONLY BE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REFUSING TO GO TO TREAT MENT.

AND OUR BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS TEACH THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD NOT BE FACING STRINGENT SANCTIONS EVEN IF THEY CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO STAY CLEAN.

>> EVEN IF THEY RELAPSE OVER AND OVER.

>> EVEN IF THEY RELAPSE AND CONTINUE TO USE.

THAT'S A PART OF THE PROCESS OF GETTING BETTER.

NOW, WE DO NEED THE COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE, AND SO, WE TAKE STEPS TO HAVE MORE FREQUENT CONTACT WITH THEM TO TEST THEM FREQUENTLY SO WE CAN KNOW WHEN THEY ARE USING AND WE CAN INTERVENE WITH MORE ENHANCED TREATMENT.

SOME NEED TO BE, IF THEY ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR COMMITTING FUTURE CRIMES, WE NEED TO DO MORE ROBUST COMMUNITY SUPERVISION BUT ULTIMATELY, IF THIS DRUG ADDICTED MAN, WOMAN OR YOUNG PERSON, IS DOING WHAT WE ASK THEM TO DO, THEY ARE GOING TO TREATMENT, THEY ARE GIVING IT THEIR BEST SHOT AND THEY ARE STRUGGLING, THAT'S THEIR DISORDER AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE JAILED FOR THAT.

AS DRUG COURTS GET THAT MESSAGE, THEN DRUG COURTS FULFILL THE PROMISE TO ACTUALLY REDUCE INCARCERATION TIME.

DRUG COURT THAT DON'T HAVE THAT MESSAGE THAT ARE USING JAIL SANCTIONS FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE WRONG REASONS OR FOR TOO LONG A DURATION THOSE DRUG COURTS ARE NOT COST EFFECTIVE, AND ACTUALLY, DO NOT REDUCE OVERALL INCARCERATION DAYS.

SO THAT'S NOT MOST DRUG COURTS.

BUT, WE WORK VERY HARD FROM OUR OFFICE TO BE SURE THAT DRUG COURTS KNOW THE SCIENCE, THEY CAN MODIFY PRACTICES SO THEY ARE HUMANELY TREATING ADDICTION AND REDUCING INCARCERATION RATES AND NOT THE OPPOSITE.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS.

WHAT DO WE KNOW RECIDIVISM RATES AND ABOUT THE INCARCERATION RATE NECESSARY HAVE BEEN LOWERED, AND THE PATH TO SOBRIETY IF THAT'S BEEN A LONG SUSTAINED TRANSFORMATIVE ROAD FOR THESE FOLKS.

>> WELL, HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW.

WE KNOW FIRST OF ALL THAT, DRUG COURT IS THE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION FOR INTRODUCING PEOPLE TO LONG-TERM RECOVERY AND HEALTH.

WE KNOW THAT.

LOW PRESSURE, MANY OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BATTLING ADDICTION SINCE THEY WERE KIDS FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.

WE KNOW THAT DRUG COURTS SUCCESSFULLY CONNECT MORE PEOPLE TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT THAN ANY OTHER APPROACH IN THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE KNOW THAT FOR A FACT.

AND, MORE OF THESE PEOPLE DO BETTER, THEY HAVE GREATER SUCCESS IN DRUG COURTS, PRIMARILY BECAUSE, OF DRUG COURTS' EMPHASIS ON RESEARCH-BASED TREATMENT, AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED IN TREATMENT LONG ENOUGH FOR IT TO WORK.

THAT WE KNOW.

WE ALSO KNOW, RENEE, THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO GRADUATE FROM DRUG COURTS ARE 75% MORE LIKELY TO REMAIN ARREST-FREE.

NOW THAT COMPARES TO 30% OF THOSE RELEASED FROM PRISONS.

SO 75% MORE LIKELY TO REMAIN ARREST-FREE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

FOR AS FAR AS WE'VE BEEN LOOKING OUT.

THAT MEANS THAT, YOU KNOWING DRUG COURT GRADUATE ON RELEASE INSTEAD OF COMING OUT AND DRIVING DRUGGED OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE INSTEAD OF SHOPLIFTING OR PARTICULARIZING TO GET MONEY INSTEAD OF DOCTOR HOPPING FOR PHARMACY SHOPPING TO GET PAIN PILLS, INSTEAD OF SELLING, YOU KNOW, DRUGS TO SUPPORT THEIR OWN ADDICTION, DRUG COURT GRADUATES ARE TAKING CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN.

GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND GETTING JOBS AND PAYING TAXES AND THEY ARE PURSUING THE AMERICAN DREAM ALONGSIDE OF US.

THEY ARE FINDING THEIR PATH AND THEIR PURPOSE IN LIFE, AND THAT IS GOOD FOR THEM, BUT IT IS ALSO GOOD FOR US.

>> >> LET'S TALK ABOUT MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT.

>> OKAY.

>> AND DO YOU KNOW IF MORE JUDGES ARE EMBRACING THAT.

A STUDY FOUND THAT TWO-THIRDS OF DRUG COURTS PREVENTED THOSE FROM USING ILLEGAL OPIOIDS FROM BEING TREATED WITH METHADONE OR SIMILAR TREATMENT.

DO YOU SEE MORE JUDGES EMBRACE THAT BECAUSE OF THE EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT IT IS AN AID THAT CAN HELP SOME ADDICTS MOVE TOWARD SOBRIETY.

>> WE ARE SEEING THAT.

AND LET ME SAY THAT, MORE THAN HALF OF THE DRUG COURTS ALLOW SOME FORM OF MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT.

BUPRENORPHINE OR NALTREXONE BUT TOO FEW COURTS HAVE ALLOWED METHADONE.

WE NO WE KNOW THAT METHADONE IS THE MOST AVAILABLE AND MOST RESEARCHED MEDICATION TO TREAT OPIOID ABUSE DISORDERS THAT A PROBLEM.

AND SO, BUT I'M ENCOURAGED THE REASON THAT I MENTIONED THE CONFERENCE WE HE WANT WE WANT THROUGH WE HAVE SUCH A HUGE RESPONSE AND MANY WERE DRUG COURTS THAT HAD NOT FULLY EMBRACED MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT YET.

AND IT IS NOT REALLY ABOUT THE JUDGES, FRANKLY.

IN MORE CASES THAN NOT, IT IS ABOUT THE TREATMENT PROVIDERS THAT WE WORK WITH AND I'M A TREATMENT PROVIDER.

I DO A BROADER WORK NOW BUT I HAVE SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE HELPING TO FREE MEN AND WOMEN FROM ADDICTION AND HELPING PEOPLE WHO HELP PEOPLE GET FREE.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE PROVIDERS WHO SERVICE DRUG COURTS.

TOO MANY OF THEM ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH MAT.

THEY ARE -- IT IS AN AWARENESS ISSUE.

SOME OF WHAT THEY HAVE BELIEVED IS GOVERNED BY MISUNDERSTANDING OR MISINFORMATION.

>> THEY STILL THINK IT IS FEEDING ADINGTION IN SOME WAY, SUBSTITUTING ONE DRUG FOR ANOTHER.

>> IN SOME WAYS THIS WHOLE THING THAT WE IN THE FIELD SAY WHETHER IT IS ABSTINENCE BASED, IT IS A FALSE CHOICE.

YOU CAN IN AN ABSTINENCE-BASED PROGRAM.

>> YOU BELIEVE THAT ABSTINENCE-BASED PROGRAMS CAN WORK.

>> THEY CAN WORK BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THEY CAN INCLUDE MEDICATION.

ABSTINENCE-BASED MEANS I'M AVOIDING THE SELF-PRESCRIBE PED USE OF A MOOD ALTERING CHEMICAL.

A PERSON CAN BE IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY, CAN BE PARTICIPATING IN ABSTINENCE-BASED TREATMENT MEANING THE GOAL IS NOT TO USE ILLICIT SUBSTANCES OR GET HIGH ON ANY DRUG OF ANY KIND AND ALSO BE USING A MEDICATION TO HELP WITH THAT PROCESS.

I DON'T THINK THAT THEY ARE YOU MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE BUT THAT THINKING IS THERE AND THAT'S ABOUT AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING.

AND I HAVE FOUND DRUG COURT PROVIDERS TO BE REALLY COMMITTED TO UNDERSTANDING THAT.

THE REALITY IS EVEN WITH THINGS NOT BEING WHERE THEY ARE OUGHT TO BE YET, THAT A DRUG COURT PARTICIPANT, AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS AND YOUR VIEWERS MAY NOT KNOW IT BUT A DRUG COURT PARTICIPANT IS TEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE THE BENEFIT OF MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT THAN A PARTICIPANT ON PROBATION OR PAROLE.

BUT, EVEN MORE THAN THAT, A DRUG COURT PARTICIPANT IS FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO GET MAT, THAN A PERSON GOING THROUGH REG ALREADY COMMUNITY-BASE TREATMENT OUTSIDE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM SO WE HAVE TO DO BETTER AND WE'RE WORKING HARD AND I'M SEEING LOTS OF PROGRESS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT EVEN NOW, WE ARE OUTPERFORMING ON THIS IMPORTANT AREA, PROBATION AND PAROLE AS A WHOLE, AND EVEN MY COLLEAGUES THE TREATMENT SYSTEM IN JEAN IS THERE A PARTICULAR PERSON THAT -- >> IS THERE A PARTICULAR PERSON THAT HELPED TO INFORM HOW YOU VIEW THIS AND ENCOUNTER, MAYBE IT WAS A CLOSE ASSOCIATE, A FAMILY MEMBER THAT REALLY TURNED YOU ON TO THE ISSUE OF ADDICTION AND HOW WE NEED TO TREAT IT AS THE DISEASE THAT IT IS.

>> WELL, THINK THERE IS A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.

I HAVE OFTEN BEEN ASKED BECAUSE I HAVE WORKED WITH MEN AND WOMEN BATTLING ADDICTION FOR ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE, I'VE OFTEN BEEN ASKED WHAT ARE MY CONNECTIONS.

I THINK I REMEMBER MY UNCLE, MY MOTHER'S ONLY BROTHER WHO I LOVED AND I REMEMBER MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, I WAS A LITTLE BITTY BOY.

I REMEMBER BEING IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR AND HAVING TO LOOK UP TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON ELSEWHERE.

AND I REMEMBER WE WERE LOOKING FOR, WE WERE SOMEWHERE DOWN SOUTH LOOKING FOR MY UNCLE LOOKING FOR MY MOTHER'S BROTHER I SHOULD SAY.

AND WHEN I SAW HIM, HE WAS LIKE I HAD NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE AND HE WAS SWEATING AND HE WAS INCO INCOHERENT AND I SAW MY FATHER WHO NEVER HELD A DRINK, WENT AND TOOK HIM INTO LIKE A STORE, AND BOUGHT HIM ALCOHOL.

AND I WATCHED MY UNCLE DRINK THAT AND GET WELL.

THAT WAS MY EARLIEST MEMORY OF WOW, WHAT'S THAT ABOUT AND I NEVER FORGOT THAT MANY YEARS LATER, WHEN I FOUND MYSELF, I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF WORKING FOR A REALLY WELL ROUNDED TREATMENT PROGRAM HAS THAT HAD LOTS OF MONEY AND RESOURCES NOT LIKE MOST OF PEOPLE THAT I HAVE SERVED SINCE.

I GOT TO SEE REALLY WELL DONE TREATMENT.

THAT INCLUDED ALL OF THE KEY COMPONENTS AND I SAW PEOPLE GET BETTER AND THEIR LIVES TRANSFORM.

AND THIS IS HOW I EVOLVED IN BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT MEDICATION HAS IN TREATMENT.

NOW, BY THE WAY, WE UNDERSTAND IN DRUG COURT,, NEVER ENOUGH BY THEMSELVES, THERE NEEDS BE OTHER TREATMENT INTERVENTIONS BUT I HAD A COLLEAGUE, WHO WAS ONE OF MY TOP CLINICAL PEOPLE, WHO I KNEW HAD BEEN SOBER AND CLEAN AND SOBER FOR 12, 13 YEARS.

THERE WAS A REGULAR MEMBER OF I KNEW HE WORKED A GOOD PROGRAM BUT HE SHARED WITH ME THAT, FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS, HE WAS ABLE TO LIVE AND DISCOVER RECOVERY, WHILE ON METHADONE MAINTENANCE.

I HAD NO IDEA AND THAT CHANGE MID-THINKING AND FORCED ME TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THIS AS A BRAIN-BASED DISEASE, AND TO DISCOVER THE POSSIBILITY THAT A PERSON CAN RECOVER AND BE ABSTINENT FROM ANY ILLICIT SUBSTANCE WHILE BEING TREATED WITH MEDICATION SO THAT WAS MY PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION AND EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT STORY BUT THAT'S I THINK, THOSE SORT OF THREE OCCURRENCES HELPED ME.

>> IN THE MORE THAN 25 YEARS SINCE THE ADVENT OF DRUG COURTS.

>> ABOUT 27.

>> 27 YEARS NOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ENVISIONED FOR THE FUTURE OF WHAT YOU DO AND IN THIS FIELD, IS -- WHAT DO YOU NEED?

IS IT MORE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

I THINK A LOT OF AGENCIES SAY THAT.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU NEED TO GET MORE PEOPLE OUT OF THE GRIP OF ADDICTION?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION AND ALLOWING ME TO RESPOND TO IT.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE VISION THAT WE HAVE AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DRUG COURT PROFESSIONALS AND JUSTICE PREVENTS.

WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE THERE IS A TREATMENT COURT, OR SOME OTHER APPROPRIATE RESPONSE FOR EVERY PERSON IN THE SYSTEM, WHO IS LIVING WITH A SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER AND NOT JUST A RESPONSE, NOT JUST A TREATMENT COURT, BUT ONE THAT WORKS.

ONE THAT IS RESEARCH-BASED AND ONE THAT IS EVIDENCE-BASED.

THAT'S MY VISION.

AND TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL SUPPORT.

THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH QUALITY TREATMENT AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T PAY FOR IT.

THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES TO MAT AND DRUG COURTS IS NOT EVEN THE AWARENESS WE TALKED ABOUT, IT IS ACTUALLY ACCESS THAT PEOPLE CAN'T ACCESS IT.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE NEWER MEDICATIONS THAT ARE SHOWING GREAT RESULTS.

SO, WE DO NEED MORE FUNDING.

BUT WE ALSO NEED A COMMUNITY AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO ACCEPT THIS AS OUR ISSUE.

THAT SUBSTANCE-RELATED HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH A COMMUNITY ISSUE.

WE ALL HAVE A STAKE IN AND IT A ROLE TO PLAY AND SO, ALL OF OUR VOICES, THOSE OF US WHO ARE FRIENDS AND ALLIES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION, WE'RE LETTING OUR VOICESBE HEARD AND ADVOCATE FOR GREATER FUNDING AND QUALITY, ESPECIALLY FOR TREATMENT FOR FOLKS WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT.

>> YEAH.

TERRENCE WALTON, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE SPEAKING WITH YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

IT GOES BY SO FAST.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DRUG COURT PROFESSIONALS LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE KET.ORG/CONNECTIONSCONNECTIONS W ME ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND MY BLOG PROMPTER.

MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN TO KET.

WE'RE KEEPING THIS ONGOING TO KEEP YOU INFORMED AND HEALTHY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

FROM BALTIMORE MARYLAND, I'M