EDITORIAL: Invest in treatment, not just incarceration

Porter County's investment in a halfway house already has more than paid for itself. It is a wise investment, not just because of the dollars, but because it is a lifesaver.

Two years ago, the county spent $458,665 for the Respite House, 1408 Chicago St., Valparaiso. The halfway house for men has saved the county $555,390 since then by diverting men from jail, Respite House board President Mitch Peters said this week.

That translates into a saving of 10,285 days behind bars, at a daily rate of $54.

Other potential savings, including health care that prisoners incur and for which the county must pay, should be considered as well.

But don't consider the dollars saved the primary factor to consider in determining whether the halfway house is a good investment. Look at the influence on individual lives and society.

Of the 52 residents Respite House served last year, 28 successfully completed the program, Peters said. That includes complying with the curfew, working if possible, paying the $135 weekly fee and attending self-help and counseling sessions.

Don't discount the value of those treatment sessions.

There are three ways to fight substance abuse — education (prevention), treatment and incarceration. All three are required, but education and treatment hold the most promise in actually solving the problem.

Porter County racked up about two dozen deaths from substance abuse last year, counting only drug and alcohol overdoses. That doesn't take into account the lives destroyed in other ways because of substance abuse.

The Respite House's success is an indication that investing in treatment, not just incarceration, is the proper approach to tackling substance abuse.