It would be an understatement to say that heroin addiction in Maine is extensive. In fact, 9% of all the people of Maine who are checking in for addiction treatment in Maine are heroin addicts, and that is not even an iota of the whole picture. There are a lot more addicts out there who are still not coming in to the treatment. The same is the condition of methamphetamine addiction in Maine. While methamphetamine is not as prevalent in the state yet, it could easily be a problem due to its easy availability in areas like the Aroostook County from where it can get into other regions.

What is making the problem graver is the fact that these addictions are adding to the crime scene of the state. Each day the number of criminal offenders who were under heroin or methamphetamine influence when they committed the crime is growing. That is the reason why drug courts have been established in the state.

The basic function of these drug courts is to provide an option for these offenders to get drug addiction treatment in Maine instead of just the normal prison term. This helps because the offenders get something much more meaningful than mere punishment. They get a recovery from their addiction. This helps the broader picture because these people will then be on their way to a constructive life and will not become offenders again.

If the situation looks too romantic, it must be noted that people who have participated in drug court programs for substance abuse treatment in Maine have shown remarkable improvements. About 80% of them stay sober after the treatment and about 90% of them do not get jailed again. Most importantly, such methods are bringing people to addiction treatment which they otherwise would not have approached.

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