In a climate of widespread legislative and public concern about methamphetamine, California's groundbreaking treatment-instead-of-incarceration initiative, Proposition 36, has been effectively treating methamphetamine users for four years.

More than half of the people convicted of a nonviolent drug offense who enter Prop 36 are methamphetamine users, according to a new report from UCLA. That works out to more than 19,000 people every year - and the report indicates that Prop 36 is treating methamphetamine users as successfully as it treats users of other drugs. Glenn Backes, the Alliance's national health policy director, said, "California is home to the nation's leading program successfully addressing the problem of methamphetamine abuse—It’s called Prop 36." Overall treatment success rates for Prop 36 are comparable to success rates for drug courts - and Prop 36 has the added benefit of treating ten times as many people.

Despite such a clear record of success, the very same groups that opposed Prop 36 in 2000 have been lobbying the legislature to significantly weaken the voters' initiative. Written by narcotics officers and prosecutors, SB 803, by State Senator Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego) would limit the number of persons who could benefit from treatment, and send more to jail. Furthermore, it would interrupt treatment and put people in jail for any slip-ups, such as a positive drug test or missed appointment. The bill passed the State Senate, but in the Assembly, Drug Policy Alliance and the physicians of the California Society of Addiction Medicine are leading a coalition to stop this subversion of the successful voter initiative. You can help by lending your voice--if you are a California resident and have not done so already, you can send the Assembly Public Safety Committee a letter expressing your opposition to SB 803.

For more information on the contents of the UCLA report, please see our Q&A.