Drugged Up and Locked In: Prison & Substance Abuse

Shavonda, a master's level licensed social worker explores the increase in the number of individuals who are incarcerated within the correctional system in Ohio. As a therapist in Ohio's prisons, she shares of her experiences as an employee working with offenders with mentally illnesses and substance addictions. She provides insight as to why substance abuse treatment is more effective in community based settings rather than prison, especially for individuals who have not committed violent crimes. She shares ideas on how the increase in community collectivism, advocacy, empathy and awareness play a large role in helping to shed light to the importance of increasing community treatment and decreasing incarceration rates.