Matthew Perry supports US drug courts
Updated: 2013-12-18 13:47
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||||
![]() |
Matthew Perry [Photo/Agencies] |
![]() |
![]() |
The 44-year-old 'Friends' star - who battled alcohol and drug addiction problems earlier in his life - backs the American court system which aims to decrease the number of drug offenders by offering non-violent persons the chance to receive treatment.
Matthew - who has been active in helping addicts and at one point even converted his Malibu beach house into a sober living facility - insists such programmes help crack down on future crime.
Talking on British current affairs show Newsnight, he said: "I see that they work. I've been involved with them for a little over four years and people that go through drug courts have a 55 per cent less chance of seeing handcuffs ever again."
Matthew claims that drug courts give people a second chance since they "interrupt" the users' substance addiction.
Quizzed on whether these people wouldn't have quit their drug habit anyway, he replied: "Well, that gets under the bigger question of whether these people are addicts or not. I mean if they're drug addicts and alcoholics they're going to keep going until something stops them. Drug court is a wonderful way to interrupt that process. It's a way to not throw these people away.
"It takes first time non-violent drug offenders and instead of throwing them into prison it puts them into an 18-month to two-year programme."
There are currently over 2,400 drug courts operating throughout the United States.
Related Stories
Active Cuban likes new role in cancer-drug venture 2013-01-17 13:53
Drug charges dropped against Jon Bon Jovi's daughter 2012-11-16 09:50
China to blacklist illicit food, drug makers 2013-12-17 13:34
China gets stronger food, drug regulator 2013-03-22 17:07
Food and drug system reform to finish this year 2013-08-09 10:21
Today's Top News
Monaco and Shanghai jointly to grow yachting biz
Vast deposits of 'flammable ice' found
System for organ donors test
Hukou reforms target 2020: official
Russia to bail out Ukraine for $15 billion
Merkel sworn in for a third term
Japan seeks bigger role for military
US budget deal clears crucial vote
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
![]()
|
![]()
|
![]()
|
![]()
|
![]()
|
![]()
|