Should I Help Someone With a Drug Addiction Make Bail?

 Posted on February 21, 2025 in Bail Bonds

Seeing a loved one go down the path of addiction can be devastating. You have likely already helped this person as much as you can, in many different ways. When you find out that your loved one has been arrested for a crime that is related to his substance abuse, you might begin to wonder if it is time to show "tough love" by leaving him in jail to await trial. Especially if he has been arrested several times before, you might be asking yourself if staying in jail would be best for your loved one. Unfortunately, a prolonged stay in the county jail is extremely unlikely to improve your loved one’s substance abuse disorder. Many people who are released from jail immediately return to drug use to cope with the trauma of being locked up in a dangerous environment. If you are able to help your loved one get the treatment he needs when he is released, this may be a better option. It is important to weigh your options carefully before helping someone with a substance abuse problem make bail. An experienced Collin County, TX bail bondsman who has seen many cases like yours can discuss your options with you.

Is There Treatment For Substance Abuse in Jail? 

Prisons - where people who have been convicted of a felony and sentenced to more than a year’s incarceration are sent - usually offer at least Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or temporary treatment programs for inmates. People who are committed to recovery can get support in prisons.

County jails, where people who are awaiting trial are held, have few or no resources to help inmates with addictions. Jails have a much more transient population - many inmates are only there for a few days. There is no guarantee that your loved one will even receive medical detox services to manage dangerous withdrawals in jail.

Drug Use in Jails 

Continuing to use drugs in jail is an option for inmates. However, purchasing illegal drugs inside a jail can put your loved one at significant risk of harm. Drugs that are smuggled into jails come from unknown sources and are unsafe. A lot of the violence seen in jails has to do with the illicit drug trade.

Going From Jail to Inpatient Treatment is an Option 

An inpatient treatment facility is a much better place for someone who is recovering from addiction than jail. If you have the option of helping your loved one make bail and then taking him directly to inpatient rehab, this course of action will likely serve him better. However, your loved one has to be willing to commit to recovery.

Contact a Collin County, TX Bail Bondsman 

Doc's Bail Bonds is committed to helping people who are struggling with substance abuse disorders. Our experienced McKinney, TX bail bondsman will do all he can to help you help your incarcerated loved one. Contact us at 214-747-4110 to speak to a licensed bondsman.