Think Outside the Cage: Colorado 8th In Methamphetamine Use

Who is the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition?

Our mission is to reverse the trend of mass incarceration in Colorado. We are a coalition of nearly 7,000 individual members and over 100 faith and community organizations who have united to stop perpetual prison expansion in Colorado through policy and sentence reform.

Our chief areas of interest include drug policy reform, women in prison, racial injustice, the impact of incarceration on children and families, the problems associated with re-entry and stopping the practice of using private prisons in our state.

If you would like to be involved please go to our website and become a member.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Colorado 8th In Methamphetamine Use

Do you think we could start funding treatment now?
The Denver Post

Colorado ranks eighth in the nation in per capita methamphetamine use, costing the state roughly $1.4 billion a year, said Attorney General John Suthers today.

A new national study of the social costs associated with methamphetamine, calculates that meth abuse nationwide costs the country $23.4 billion a year, or roughly $73,700 per user.

Costs include treatment and hospitalization of abusers, social programs caring for their children and families, law enforcement and finally the lost productivity caused by the drug, which is relatively cheap, highly addictive and long-lasting, sometimes producing a high for 24 hours.

"Abuse of methamphetamine brings a whole host of problems with it, particularly crimes such as burglaries and