Many of our communities are affected by crime. The news broadcasts are riddled with stories of horror, not imagined, not created for our entertainment, and basically, parental discretion should be advised. These stories are so close to us that we can experience them through nearly all of our senses. The Department of Health and Human Services (2008) conducted the National survey on drug use and health (NSDUH). They completed and obtained 67,870 interviews in 2007. Their findings on rates associated with education levels were that among adults aged 18 or older, those with college or university degrees had lower rates of drug dependency or abuse (7.5 percent) than those with just high school diplomas (9.3 percent). Surprisingly, those without high school diplomas (9.8 percent) fared better than those with some college (10.3 percent). Their findings on rates associated with employment status were that there was a higher percentage of unemployed adults (20.0 percent) aged 18 or older classified as dependent or abusive with drugs than fully employed participants (10.1 percent) or part-time participants (10.6 percent).
Further, from the Department of Health and Human Services (2008), in 2007, the number of people aged 12 and older needing treatment for drug addiction or abuse was 7.5 million, and of this population, 1.3 million received treatment at a specialty facility (specialty treatment is defined as treatment received at hospitals – inpatient only), drug or alcohol rehabilitation facilities (inpatient or outpatient), or mental health centers, but it does not include treatment at an emergency room, private doctor's office, self-help groups, prison, jail, or hospital as an outpatient. There were 6.2 million people aged 12 and older needing treatment for drug addiction or abuse but did not receive treatment at a specialty facility. Among people aged 12 or older needing treatment for drug addiction or abuse but did not receive treatment, the most common reasons for not receiving treatment were; 1) no health coverage and could not afford the cost (34.3 percent); 2) not ready to stop using (31.8 percent); 3) concern that receiving treatment might cause neighbors/community to look upon them negatively (14.4 percent); 4) not knowing where to go for treatment (13.5 percent); 5) a belief in being able to handle the problem without treatment (12.7 percent); and 6) possible negative effect on their jobs (11.7 percent).
According to West and Sabol (2009), Bureau of Justice Statisticians, there were 1,610,584 adult inmates under state or federal jurisdiction at mid-year 2008. Of that population, 40.24 percent are incarcerated in the South region, and 92.81 percent are men. For this study, it is paramount to include the juvenile inmate population. When we do, our prison population increases by 700,616 to 2,311,200, and of that population, 34.92 percent are White, 39.54 percent are Black, and 19.92 are Hispanic. Further analysis of this data shows the Black men population to be higher than any other group between the ages of 18 and 39 (which is crucial when we look at how this affects employment); however, when we look at the inmate population per 100,000 U.S. residents, the number of Black men inmates dominates in all age categories. The overall inmate population estimate for Black men per 100,000 U.S. residents for mid-year 2008 is 4,777 compared to 727 for White men and 1,760 for Hispanic men. Black women dominate in their respective categories as well.
We find 20,245 incarcerated in Georgia (Georgia Department of Corrections 2008). Of males disclosing their race (17,936 of 20,139), 62.77 percent are Black, 37.0 percent are White, and 4.92 percent are Hispanics. Of females disclosing their race (2,203 of 20,139), 42.26 percent are Black, and 57.42 percent are White. Strikingly, of those reporting employment at entry to prison (16,788 of 20,245), 55.41 percent disclosed being fully employed and of those offering their socioeconomic status at intake (19,436 of 20,245), 50 percent report being middle class. The last statistic is interesting, if not questionable, since of men reporting their highest grade level attained (17,523 of 19,617), of which grade ten is the median, and of women reporting their highest grade level attained (2,094 of 19,617), of which the median is grade eleven. Of Georgia’s total inmate population (20,245), 14,088 (69.60 percent) report either “Drug Only,” “Alcohol Only,” or “Drugs and Alcohol” histories. We find evidence of intergenerational substance abuse in data provided by Mumola and Karberg (2006) where in 2004, 13.9 percent of state and 10 percent of federal inmates report having parents/guardians with “Both Alcohol and Drug” histories. They also found that 642,500 of 1,143,400 (2004 population) reported being either dependent or abusing drugs twelve months prior to admission. In fact, of that same 2004 population, 17 percent of state and 18 percent of federal inmates report that their current crime was committed to get money for drugs.
These statistics show that there is a significant USA population addicted or abusive with drugs, majority of them do not receive treatment, and majority of those that do not receive treatment cite the inability to afford treatment as their reason for not receiving treatment. Therefore, they go on to bitter ends. Furthermore, the prison population in the United States of America is unusually large, disproportionately Black, male, and under educated. Gibbs (1986) and Anderson (1999) write that the young Black’s exposure to the criminal justice system is early, extensive, intensive, and recidivistic due to a lacking in education and employment. As a result, their future for upward mobility is dismal. Alienated, their lifestyles are antisocial, addictive, exploitive, confrontational, and risky; however, they are socially, economically, and politically reinforced by our society. This population abandons mainstream institutions and turns to an underground economy – specifically, the drug trade (Anderson 1999, Royster 2003). Their communities become more distressed and its population adapt with many forms of desperation. Anderson continues with depictions of how the drug industry evolves. In an attempt to maintain economically, one starts selling drugs and encourages others to get involved (even family members). Some make it, but sadly some do not – they die or they become hopelessly addicted (Anderson 1999).
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