According to a recent report of the Centre for Mental Health, offenders with drinking problems do not get enough support to turn their lives around. The report also states that more people commit crimes and have ill health because of alcohol abuse, than because of drug abuse. Unfortunately, intervention schemes are under-resourced and health en justice services should pool their resources in the future. Criminals who drink harmfully are not offered as much support as those who use illegal drugs. This counts from basic screening and advice to specialist counseling and treatment programs. According to the Centre for Mental Health all frontline works, such as police and GP’s, should be able to recognize alcohol misuse and be able to refer people on to specialists or other treatments if they need them.
On one hand I wonder why they need help at all. Is jail not a place to recover, because alcohol is forbidden there? If people are alcoholics, should they automatically overcome their addiction in prison? On the other hand, the report proves that my statement questioning is not true. Therefore I believe that all who need help, should get it, imprisoned or not. It is a shame that alcohol misuse often does not get noticed by GP’s or authorities. Especially when more crimes are committed by hazardous drinkers and their health is more poor than those who misuse drugs. I think there is some kind of a taboo on alcoholism. Because an alcohol addiction is easy to get into. Everyone drinks its occasional glass of wine, but not everyone takes recreational drugs. Alcohol addiction could happen to anyone, maybe that is why it is not always noticed.
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