Copyright: 2004 The Courier-Journal
Contact: cjletter@courier-journal.com
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Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
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Authors: Deborah Yetter, Harold Adams, The Courier-Journal

TREATMENT STRESSED OVER PUNISHMENT

Expanding drug courts in Kentucky and Indiana is one way officials hope to
better control the spread of meth.

In Kentucky, a pilot drug court project in Jefferson County that began in
1993 has expanded to 69 counties throughout the state and offers judges a
chance to offer addicts rehabilitation instead of jail, its advocates said.

"It's helped save my life," said James Jackson, 34, a methamphetamine
addict from Clinton County who now is in his fourth month of a one-year
term in drug court.

Participants are sentenced to probation instead of jail for voluntarily
participating in the highly structured regimen of classes, counseling and
regular drug tests.

Court staff workers provide some supervision, and participants attend
classes and counseling in the community at sites such as the local
mental-health center.

They also must attend Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings,
according to the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts, which
supervises drug court outside Jefferson County.

"You focus on recovery," Jackson said. "It doesn't give you much of a
chance to focus on anything else."

The Administrative Office of the Courts estimated the state gains about
$5.58 for every dollar it spends on drug court, saving the cost of
incarceration and receiving revenue from increased employment.

In Indiana, a task force recently studied the state's meth problem and
recommended that more drug courts be added to the current total of 17.

Seven additional drug courts were already being planned before the task
force made its recommendations.

The report, released in October, said effective treatment programs cost
$6,000 to $8,000 a year, compared with $20,000 a year to keep an offender
in prison.

In Vigo County, Ind., with the state's worst meth lab problem, Superior
Court Judge Barbara Brugnaux said close supervision of offenders through
drug court is "the best in-community supervision that the individual can have."

A drug task force directed by Kentucky Lt. Gov. Steve Pence, who also is
state justice secretary, recommended that the courts be further expanded in
August as part of a broader strategy to combat illegal drug use in Kentucky.

But in both states, finding money to expand drug courts statewide is a
challenge.

Kentucky has budgeted $6.5million over two years for drug court. The courts
also are funded through a variety of federal grants.

Connie Payne, drug court manager for the Administrative Office of the
Courts, said it would take an additional $6.3million to expand the drug
courts statewide.

Brugnaux said her $250,000-a-year drug court budget is patched together
through grants from eight sources.

There are no immediate prospects for additional funding with the state
facing a $600million operating deficit this fiscal year and increased costs
for tax relief and health care.

But legislators have indicated that programs emphasizing treatment, such as
drug courts, would receive serious consideration in the general assembly
next year.

"We can't afford enough prison space to incarcerate the growing number of
nonviolent drug offenders," House speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis,
said. "And alternatives to incarceration have to include treatment if they
are going to be successful."

Advocates say drug court is a more enlightened way to deal with many
offenders because it offers them a chance at rehabilitation instead of
cycling in and out of jail. But drug courts only work if the judges have a
local system of treatment, counseling and other services. Many communities,
especially in rural areas, lack those services, advocates said.

"There's no sense in setting up drug courts if you don't have someplace to
refer them to," said Sheila Schuster, executive director of the Kentucky
Mental Health Coalition. "It makes no sense to have drug courts if there's
not community-based treatment."

Felecia Peacock, 32, of Bowling Green, said drug court finally helped her
break away from six years of meth abuse. Facing jail or treatment under
supervision of drug court, Peacock chose the latter. "Warren County Drug
Court saved my life," she said.

Staff writer Laura Bauer contributed to this story.

[SIDEBAR]

Steps in successful treatment

1. Assess the situation.

2. Get the person to understand and accept his drug or alcohol dependence
and realize he can't change it alone.

3. Work to identify "triggers" such as stress or anger that lead to drug or
alcohol use and how to better manage such triggers.

4. Teach "relapse prevention" - steps to take when tempted to abuse drugs
or alcohol.

5. Educate the person about recovery - that it takes time.

6. Provide links to self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or
Narcotics Anonymous.

Source: Robert Walker, University of Kentucky Center on Drug and Alcohol
Research.