INDIANA – A new study has found that Indiana adults who participate in treatment court programs experience significantly better health outcomes than those who do not enroll.
Treatment courts are a judicial intervention that offers a public health approach and an alternative to incarceration for people with substance use disorder (SUD).
Lawrence County has two drug courts:
Drug Treatment Court
The Drug Treatment Court Team program empowers individuals who struggle with substance abuse to achieve substance-free lives and enhanced well-being. The Prosecutor’s Office ensures community safety by establishing and enforcing eligibility criteria and advocating for effective incentives to encourage participant compliance. Successful program completion may result in the dismissal of charges. The Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office prioritizes rehabilitation through Drug Treatment Court, fostering a supportive environment that helps individuals transform their lives and reintegrate into society.
Veterans Court
Veterans Court provides a rehabilitative pathway for veterans and active-duty military members confronting addiction, mental health challenges, or service-related injuries. Successful program completion can lead to dismissal of charges or suspended sentencing, promoting recovery and reintegration. The purpose of Veterans Court is to provide rehabilitative support to veterans, empowering them to become productive, law-abiding citizens and valuable contributors to their communities.
The study examined people accepted into 30 Indiana treatment court programs between January 2018 and June 2021. The key findings show that treatment court participants, when compared to accepted applicants who chose not to participate, were:
- 83 percent less likely to die.
- 83 percent less likely to call Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
- 34 percent less likely to present at an emergency department.
The researchers noted that these findings can inform policies to expand the number of treatment court programs and broaden their use, confirming the importance of these courts as a public health intervention.
