Does the initiative provide a carrot and stick approach to treatment?
Absolutely. The initiative combines a comprehensive treatment program, the prospect of benefits (like dismissal of criminal charges upon successful completion), and the threat of jail time for those who fail out of treatment. Each person entering treatment under the initiatives program will be supervised by a range of people who are trying to steer the person toward success. If a person uses drugs again while in treatment, the initiative provides for the court to impose sanctions or tighten up the treatment program. Beginning with the third relapse, the judge can jail the person for a short time as a wake-up call, or even remove the person from treatment entirely and terminate the program, jailing the person for up to two months, or up to six months in the case of repeat offenders.
