文章基本信息

标题：Public Intoxication: Sobering Centers as an Alternative to Incarceration, Houston, 2010–2017
本地全文：下载
作者：Suzanne V. Jarvis ; Leonard Kincaid ; Arlo F. Weltge 等
期刊名称：American journal of public health
印刷版ISSN：0090-0036
出版年度：2019
卷号：109
期号：4
页码：597-599
DOI：10.2105/AJPH.2018.304907
出版社：American Public Health Association
摘要：In 2010, the Houston police department admitted 20 508 publicly intoxicated individuals into its jail. To address jail overcrowding, the city created a jail diversion policy that allowed law enforcement to admit publicly intoxicated individuals into a new sobering center. By 2017, public intoxication jail admissions had decreased by 95%, freeing valuable resources. A promising public health intervention, sobering centers offer an alternative to incarceration and relieve overuse of emergency services while assisting individuals with substance use issues. Misuse of substances has a significant impact on public health, directly contributing to crime, health issues, and lost productivity. 1 In 2010, the City of Houston Police Department (HPD) had 20 508 public intoxication admissions into its jail ( Table 1 ). Although public intoxication is a low-level misdemeanor offense, it creates collateral consequences that can negatively affect a person’s employment, housing, and access to government programs, 2 often initiating a downward economic and social spiral. TABLE 1— Annual Public Intoxication Admissions: Houston, TX, 2010–2017 Admissions, No. Location 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total a Houston city jail b 20 508 16 365 15 357 6 345 2 093 1 450 1 187 835 11 910 Sobering center c 0 0 0 3 753 5 700 5 799 5 398 4 632 25 282 Clients with < 3 admissions 0 0 0 3 252 4 523 4 366 3 879 3 448 19 468 Clients with ≥ 3 admissions 0 0 0 501 1 177 1 433 1 519 1 184 5 814 Open in a separate window a Total 2013–2017 admissions. b Reports of public intoxication admissions into the city jail. c Reports of the Houston police department and other law enforcement agency admissions..