COMMENTARY: DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS BENEFIT WHOLE COMMUNITY

RECENTLY, there has been discussion within our community regarding the
efficacy of treatment for people with alcohol and other drugs (AOD)
addiction. The Lane County Heroin Task Force unequivocally believes
that treatment for AOD addiction has a highly successful outcome in
changing the detrimental behaviors of the individuals addicted to drugs
and the direct and indirect negative consequences for the community.

The HTF represents a group of concerned citizens and professionals
whose vision is to decrease heroin use and its consequences. One of its
goals is to increase access to treatment. Research, experience and
testimony have shown time and again that treatment is the definitive
tool to break the devastating cycle of substance abuse and addiction.

In the United States today, the use, abuse and addiction of alcohol and
other drugs is the leading cause of death, disability and disease. The
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse states that untreated substance
abuse and addiction account for most of the costs of the nation's
prisons and jails, consume 70 percent of child welfare spending,
complicate the burden on our nation's schools, waste billions each year
in lost productivity and wreak havoc on families. Providing treatment
to all people suffering from AOD problems in the United States
(including the 75 percent of illicit drug users who are employed) would
save more than $150 billion in social costs during the next 15 years,
while requiring just $21 billion in treatment costs.

But those are national statistics. A 1996 report issued by the state of
Oregon concludes that for Oregonians who successfully completed AOD
treatment, arrests declined by 33 percent and violent crimes decreased
by 23 percent. Wages increased by 65 percent, food stamp recipiency was
cut by 66 percent and child welfare cases were reduced by half. The
study concludes that each tax dollar spent on substance abuse treatment
saves more than $5.50 of avoided costs in annual criminal justice
costs, victim losses, theft losses, and health care service utilization
costs.

Our community is cutting funding for treatment facilities while many
sit and wonder about the rising crime rate.

Lane County already has closed Passages, one of two substance abuse
residential treatment facilities for incarcerated men. The program
successfully rehabilitated scores of drug-abusing criminals into
productive and responsible men, saving the citizens of Lane County
thousands of dollars in repeat-offense costs.

Not only does treatment work at breaking the cycle of drug abuse and
criminal activity, but it also is a wise investment for taxpayers - a
550 percent return for every dollar spent on treatment is smart
business.

All of us in Lane County have been positively affected by those who
have successfully completed AOD treatment. As we create public policy
for availability and access to substance abuse treatment, the HTF
pleads for open dialogue and awareness of the effectiveness of
treatment as a humane, research-based modality to decrease the harm of
drug and alcohol addiction for the individual as well as for our
community.

Jan Mackey is chairwoman of the Lane County Heroin Task Force.