Rochester, NY, Mar 29, 2013 — Today, the final part in a series about society's efforts to turn away from long-term incarceration for nonviolent offenders. In Part one, we met Jeff, a college-bound young man from Western New York who fell into serious drug addiction, broke into a pharmacy, and cycled through drug courts and rehab for years before being sentenced to prison.

But instead of serving a four year sentence, Jeff went to Moriah Shock, a bootcamp-style, six-month program in the Adirondacks. We left off yesterday when Jeff was three months away from his release, and feeling confident his time in Shock would help him stay drug and crime-free when he returned home.

"I mean obviously I'm not going to walk around, I'm not going to march around and call cadence, but it helps establish certain discipline that's essential through the program, and this is from the heart, I'm not just speaking to build up the program because I know whatever I say is going to be fine."

In Part three, producer Natasha Haverty finds Jeff back in the world, rebuilding his life and looking ahead.  Go to full article

Mar 28, 2013 — This week as part of our Prison Time Media Project, producer Natasha Haverty is looking at some of the approaches cash-strapped states are taking to try and cut prison their populations.

Yesterday, we began the story of Jeff, a young man from western New York who fell into serious drug addiction and broke into a pharmacy to feed his habit. After spending years cycling through drug courts, unable to stay off drugs, he was sent to prison here in the North Country.

"It's very true to say that I as given a great opportunity at drug court and I failed. I failed at drug court. I failed. I'm going to prison, for years. That's the lowest of the low, that's the lowest I can think of before death."

But unlike many other inmates, Jeff was sent to a shock prison in Moriah, in Essex County, which focuses on life skills training and rehabilitation. Part two of our series takes us to Moriah Shock and finds Jeff at the middle of his prison sentence.  Go to full article

Mar 27, 2013 — When Governor Nelson Rockefeller pushed through his landmark drug laws in New York forty years ago, he argued that any alternatives to his new tough on crime zero tolerance approach had failed:

"I was on this kick of trying to get the addict off the street, into treatment. Now this was a beautiful concept, except it just didn't happen to relate to the realities because the pushers keep finding new people. And I have to say that as far as I am aware, there is no known, absolute cure for addiction."

But in recent years, those Rockefeller Drug Laws have gone through a series of reforms. These days, cash-strapped states like New York are struggling to reduce inmate populations so that they can close expensive prisons. Governor Andrew Cuomo plans to mothball two more correctional facilities downstate this year.

And reducing the number of people behind bars means experimenting with diversion programs for non-violent drug offenders: States are offering counseling programs, rehabilitation and therapy, and opening alternative, "drug courts." The goal is to battle drug addiction without incarceration.

This week, as part of our Prison Time Media Project, Natasha Haverty follows the journey of one man through a system that's trying to turn away from mass incarceration. Here's part one of her three-part series.  Go to full article

Feb 01, 2013 — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer wants the federal Food and Drug Administration to make it harder for people to get painkillers that contain hydrocodone.

Hydrocodone is one of the most heavily prescribed drugs in New York state and nationwide. It's a popular and effective painkiller, but according to the Upstate New York Poison Control Center, it was named in more than 12,800 cases of prescription drug abuse in 2011.

Schumer wants it included in the FDA's Schedule II drug list, joining morphine, methamphetamine and amphetamine.  Go to full article

Malone, NY, May 27, 2010 — This morning in Malone, a coalition of experts and non-profit groups will hold a conference on the issue of problem gambling.

A generation ago, gambling was far less pervasive. Now, betting is everywhere. You can buy lottery tickets at the corner convenience store or place your wager on-line.

Jill Vaughan is a caseworker who handles problem gambling prevention for Northstar Chemical Dependency Services.

Gambler's Anonymous Watertown/Canton/Massena/Ogdensburg Hotline Number: (315) 482-9445  Go to full article

May 24, 2005 — A St. Lawrence County doctor was arrested last week for allegedly prescribing painkillers to addicted clients who didn't need them. The case is drawing attention to how prescription narcotics are controlled in New York. Dr. Gail DeHart of Gouverneur was charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. DeHart's lawyer, Ed Menkin of Syracuse, declined to comment on the case, saying he had yet to meet with his client. Experts say abuse of prescription drugs is a growing problem nationwide, especially among young people. A new state law taking effect next year will require doctors to use official prescription forms, so the health department can better track prescription narcotics. David Sommerstein spoke with Dr. John Dewar, a family physician based in Potsdam. He's medical director of Canton-Potsdam Hospital's chemical dependency unit. He says he deals with 150 to 200 clients a year who are addicted to prescription drugs.  Go to full article

May 20, 2005 — State police arrested a Gouverneur doctor and her assistant Wednesday for allegedly providing prescriptions for drug addicts and dealers. Doctor Gail DeHart and her office manager Joan Kingdon operated a private practice from the doctor's home. Dr. DeHart had worked in the past at E.J. Noble Hospital and at a clinic in Edwards. The two face charges of criminal sale of a controlled substance. Officials say she billed the drugs to the taxpayer-funded Medicaid system. The state attorney general's office may press charges of fraud. David Sommerstein spoke with St. Lawrence County acting District Attorney Gary Miles. He says Dr. DeHart was prescribing large amounts of painkillers, like Oxycontin and morphine, to dozens of patients.  Go to full article

Aug 04, 2004 — Senator Charles Schumer will be in Watertown this morning to unveil a plan to crack down on methamphetamines, or 'crystal meth'. As David Sommerstein reports, Watertown has become a hotspot of a problem that's growing across rural New York.  Go to full article

Apr 22, 2004 — More people died in Vermont last year from drug use than traffic accidents. As Jody Tosti reports, that's the first time that has happened.  Go to full article

Feb 20, 2004 — Six years ago we first talked with "Liz," an eighteen-year-old heroin addict. Hers is the story of a teenager's fall into addiction, and the struggle to come back. Martha Foley checked back in and found a hopeful epilogue.  Go to full article