Marijuana Still Dominates U.S. Arrests

Data released by the FBI in their annual Uniform Crime Reporting has confirmed the decades-long trend: America arrests a large proportion of its population, and a significant number is made up of people with marijuana possession charges. There were 12.4 million arrests last year, according to the FBI numbers, of which 1.5 million are drug busts. This was the largest group, beating out robbery at 1.2 million arrests. And, of the million drug arrests, over half were for just marijuana—and 81% of that half was for simple possession.

Some, including Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, have questioned whether the “war on drugs” is a failure, because it leads to arrests like these. Many commentators have directly linked harsh drug possession punishments to the overcrowding of United States prisons. And drug possession, whether it’s for marijuana, meth, bath salts, cocaine, PCP, prescription drugs, can carry a stiff penalty. But there’s almost always a better option than prison for drug offenders—especially for simple possession charges, which punish the victims (drug users) instead of the real criminals (drug dealers). Research has shown that a far better option is a good program of treatment.

Though drugs are linked to all kinds of social ills, including increased crime, treatment is the much better option. Thankfully there is good help available in New Jersey. Medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating drug addictions. It can be difficult or impossible for an addict to treat themselves on their own or with family members, so it’s very important to find the right treatment center. At Seabrook, we tailor our treatment plans to each individual patient’s needs, so you can rest assured that you’ll be getting the right remedy for yourself or for a loved one. Seabrook has rehabilitation centers in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient center in New York (NY). Contact Seabrook today for any questions about drugs, addiction, and treatment.