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As States Emphasize Addiction Treatment, Prison Populations Will Drop: Study
At least five states have reclassified simple drug possession from a felony to misdemeanor since 2014 in an effort to reduce prison populations—and it seems to be working, according to a new report released by the Urban Institute. The results support a growing body of evidence that shows treatment, not incarceration, is the most effective way to address drug addiction, as the country continues to grapple with the opioid crisis, according to the study.