COWS, DOGS AND THE GOP: A BUSY WEEK IN THE WEST

What can our governor and Legislature do to reduce drug use, child
abuse, and the need for extra prison beds, save tax dollars, and
improve the lives of many Idahoans? Fund substance abuse treatment.
We don't have to look further than our President-elect to see that
people do recover and lead productive lives. Let's give Idahoans the
same opportunity.

Idaho is facing a crisis. The requests for treatment are greater than
the resources. Treatment for adolescents is sorely lacking. Even
worse, in July Idaho could see a 20 percent drop in funding, closing
some treatment programs. It's a mistake to make treatment available
only in prison. Without treatment, the war on methamphetamine will
never be won!

Look at the numbers. Almost half of the children entering foster care
in Ada County do so because of their parent's drug use. Children of
substance-abusing parents are much more likely to be abused or
neglected. Almost 50,000 Idahoans are alcohol/drug dependent. Last
month, 68,000 Idahoans used an illicit drug and 197,000 did binge
drinking. Those activities led to almost 11,000 arrests for DUI and
7,500 arrests on drug offenses. Eighty-three percent of our prison
inmates have alcohol/drug problems. Idaho currently ranks fifth per
capita for our rate of methamphetamine lab arrests Treatment reduces
use. The Rand Corporation studied ways to reduce drug use. Treatment
was 10 times more effective than law enforcement and 23 times more
effective than suppression in lowering illicit drug use. National
studies have consistently shown over 50 percent reductions in use for
persons involved in substance abuse treatment programs.

Treatment is effective. The most effective programs tie treatment to
routine alcohol/drug monitoring and accountability. Eighty-five
percent of professionals such as physicians or pilots who enter
treatment succeed.

The Office of Performance Evaluations found that prison treatment
programs reduce recidivism from 5 to 20 percent. Treatment outcome
studies find that crime is reduced over 50 percent and that every $1
spent on treatment saves $7 in criminal justice and health care
costs. Most importantly, treatment heals the scars of abuse and
addiction left on users, families, and associates. Treating parents
is the most effective method of preventing future abuse and addiction
by their children.

A number of states have acted to expand treatment based on the
knowledge that treatment works, reduces the need for prisons, and
saves money. Arizona in one year estimated a savings of $2.5 million
and reduced demand for prison beds.

It is time to act. The following actions need to be taken:

Maintain the current level of funding for existing community treatment options.

Allocate new funds for drug courts that tie treatment, monitoring,
and accountability together to achieve positive outcomes.

Expand substance abuse treatment programs in the prisons.

Make the clients pay as much as possible for the cost of care.

Make treatment available at point of need. Delays only make problems worse.

Ensure insurance parity for mental health and substance abuse
treatment. Without parity, there is and will be continuing pressure
for public funding of services.

Make sure that there is full coordination and cooperation among state
agencies and local government to make services more effective and
funding more efficient.

Now is not the time to argue whether abuse and addiction are moral,
criminal, or health problems. Now is the time to use our state funds
wisely to make a positive impact on the lives of many Idahoans. We
know that treatment works. It is time for Idaho to join other states
in reducing not just drug and alcohol use and their negative
consequences, but also the long-term need for prison beds. It is time
for Idaho to do the right thing.