Most of the people in prison today have a drug problem, an alcohol problem or a mental health problem — sometimes all three. That’s true in just about any prison in the United States, and it’s true in Butler County.

Speaking to the county prison board earlier this week, corrections officer Jeff Bailey told board members that in the past two years, of the 185 prisoners he has worked with, 178 had drug or alcohol problems. No doubt, other officers in the county prison have seen similar numbers.

To reduce the number of people returning to prison after release, treatment of those drug, alcohol and mental health problems is crucial. For that reason, Butler County should continue supporting what appears to be, at least initially, an effective treatment program run by the Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center.

Loss of a $148,000 state grant has raised questions about the future of the program. But finding funding to replace the grant money, which runs out in March, makes sense. As County Judge William Shaffer pointed out, treatment is less expensive than prison.

Joining Shaffer in voicing support for the program are District Attorney Richard Goldinger and Sheriff Mike Slupe. All three county commissioners also support the program.

Commissioner Jim Eckstein’s support was solidified after conversations he had with inmates while having lunch in the prison. According to Eckstein, the main topic over lunch was inmate concerns over the possible loss of the program due to a drop in funding.

One inmate defended the drug treatment programs in a letter to the editor published in Tuesday’s Butler Eagle.

“For the first time in my life I am fighting successfully for sobriety,” wrote Crystal Irwin, 22, adding she has struggled with addiction for nearly half her life.

“This program has given me a reason not to give up on myself. I would hate to see it jeopardized by a money issue.”

Eckstein told his fellow prison board members that his conversations with inmates were moving. No doubt. Few among us have not heard of a family member, a friend or acquaintance of a friend or relative struggling with alcohol or drug addiction. Such stories are tragically common.

Eckstein’s conversations at the prison also confirm that some of the prisoners, at least those enrolled in the treatment programs, want to break free of their drug or alcohol addictions and avoid returning to prison. They want to turn their lives around.

That’s good for them and their families. It’s also good for taxpayers.

While a longer track record would be more conclusive, the early results of the program are encouraging. According to figures from the O’Brien Gaiser center, only a few of the 37 inmates who have participated in the treatment program have returned to prison in the two years it’s operated. A few more years of tracking inmates going through the program will help paint a clearer picture of the program’s effectiveness. But the early results are encouraging enough that county officials should find money to keep the program operating.

Given the early success rate and support from top county elected, judicial and criminal officals, replacing the lost grant money should be a no brainer.

Additional revenue from housing state inmates in the county prison could replace the lost state funding for this program as well as an inmate drug and alcohol education program, which will need extension funding in June.

With the past year’s revenue from housing state inmates expected to be $2.5 million — well above the $1.9 million budgeted figure — the additional funds appear to be available.

Treatment does not guarantee an inmate will not return to prison. But not providing treatment almost surely does. Drug, alcohol and mental health treatment for inmates saves money — and saves lives.