WEBB TO WAGE WAR ON DRUG ADDICTION

Prevention, Treatment To Be Stressed

Wednesday, January 09, 2002 - Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, whose family
has been touched by substance-abuse problems, plans to spend his last year
in office fighting alcohol and drug addiction with increased prevention,
treatment and enforcement.

Webb asked the City Council on Tuesday for $1 million for abuse programs,
including $450,000 for another drug court and $250,000 to study the
feasibility of opening a Betty Ford-type treatment center.

Another $100,000 would go to Denver Public Schools for prevention programs
at middle schools. The mayor also wants to combat binge drinking among high
school and college students. Enforcement would include underage stings at
liquor stores.

At a news conference and later at a City Club of Denver luncheon, Webb said
he got into politics to help people and plans to leave the mayor's office
doing the same.

His son, Allen Wayne Webb, has publicly battled addiction.

"As I have gotten older, I know very few families who have not been touched
by alcohol or drug addiction," the mayor said. "They don't always talk
about it, and in some cases they don't claim the family member."

Reports show that in Denver, the number of people treated in emergency
rooms for alcohol and drugs is nearly three times the national average.
Officials said one reason the number is so high is lack of treatment statewide.

"Colorado has not paid enough attention to the issues and has under-funded
treatment," said Carmelita Mun~iz of the Colorado Association of Alcohol &
Drug Service Providers. "We really haven't paid attention the way we should."

Webb first announced a "war on drugs" in 1999, followed by the appointment
of Adam Brickner as the city's first drug czar in 2000. Most of the funds
for the "war" have gone toward enforcement and detox programs, and there
have been no treatment alternatives for working people, Webb said.

"If you are wealthy, you can seek treatment. If you are in drug court, you
can seek treatment," Webb said. "If you have a job and are fighting
addiction every day, there is no program set up for you.

"Addiction is a sickness and it needs to be treated as a sickness," Webb
said. "Our goal is to find areas and niches where we can make a difference."

Another $250,000 will allow Denver Health Medical Center to study getting a
treatment center, which could be run privately.

"We get people in the ER with substance problems and we have nowhere to
send them for treatment," said Dr. Ed Casper, director of Denver Health.

Casper said this would be only the second time in 25 years that the city
earmarked money for treatment. Last year, the city gave $500,000 for a
substance-abuse program and residential-treatment program.

"It was important for the mayor to take the lead to address this problem,"
he said.

Councilman Ed Thomas said he would support the mayor.

"It took me a long time to figure out that treatment is more effective than
jail," said Thomas, a former police officer.

But Councilman Ted Hackworth said he doesn't see a major problem with
substance abuse.

"Personally, I don't see this as a priority and so I would have trouble
supporting this," he said.

The mayor, who must leave office in 2003 because of term limits, said this
initiative was just one of several that will mark "a very challenging
year." Other expected announcements include the city's plan to deal with
the current crowded jail after voters last year defeated a measure to build
a new jail.

The crowded jail won't keep officers from arresting drug dealers, Webb
said, adding other inmates with less serious crimes may be released and
monitored with electronic anklets. The jail also will improve its
drug-treatment program for inmates.

"The jail will not slow down our efforts in terms of going after people
selling drugs," he said.

Fighting drug and alcohol abuse

Mayor Wellington Webb wants more than $1 million to help fight drug and
alcohol addiction in Denver. His plan:

TREATMENT

$75,000 to begin a Young Adult Transitional Housing program for those with
addictions or mental health problems.

$112,500 in city money for agencies such as Urban Peak and the University
of Colorado Health Sciences Center that offer treatment and support
services to those ages 16 to 21.

$250,000 for a feasibility study for a residential treatment center, owned
by the city, that would provide "adult treatment and family-support
services affordable to working people."

PREVENTION

$100,000 for a partnership with Denver Public Schools to identify middle
school children in potential drug abuse situations.

$50,000 for a partnership with Denver Health Medical Center, Arapahoe
House, Denver University and Denver Public Schools to reduce binge drinking.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Continued efforts to hold criminals accountable for their behavior.

PRISONER TREATMENT

Continued support of the MODEL Program, designed to help released inmates
with medical, psychiatric or substance-abuse problems.

DRUG COURT

$450,000 to fund an additional Drug Court, where participants receive
extensive treatment and drug testing. Eighty percent of participants remain
arrest-free five years after graduating.

DRUG CZAR

Adam Brickner, Denver's drug czar, will report directly to the mayor.