The second annual evaluation of California's Proposition 36, which diverts certain drug offenders to treatment instead of prison, says the law is providing an important entry point to treatment for first- and second-time offenders, Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly reported Oct. 4.

The 148-page report on Proposition 36 by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Neuropsychiatric Institute's Integrated Substance Abuse Programs also shows that the completion and outcome rates for Prop 36 clients are similar to those of other criminal-justice referrals.

According to the report, one-third of drug offenders referred to treatment programs under Proposition 36, also known as the Substance Abuse and Criminal Prevention Act (SACPA), completed treatment. The study also found that nearly half of the offenders were entering treatment for the first time in their lives. The percentage is significant, since many offenders have a drug use history of 10 years or more.

"SACPA continues to introduce thousands of new clients to treatment -- an important move toward eventual cessation of drug use," said Douglas Longshoer, a behavioral scientist at UCLA and the principal investigator of the report.

He added, "SACPA is voluntary and agreeing to participate is the first step. The second step is entering treatment. About 70 percent of those who agreed to participate in the first year of Proposition 36 showed up for treatment."