DRUG COURTS WIN BACKING

If you are a white meth addict, Polk County's drug court can help you turn
your life around. If you are an African-American addicted to crack-cocaine,
a new study shows the program probably won't help.

State officials are touting the expensive program as a way to fight drug
abuse without adding to overcrowded prisons. Last week, the state announced
a plan to expand the number of drug courts.

The three-year study by the Governor's Alliance on Substance Abuse found
that 48 percent of white participants graduated from Polk County's drug
court, compared with 17 percent of blacks.

Despite the racial divide, sponsors and successful graduates say the
combination of substance-abuse treatment and intensive probation is
effective - especially when addicts realize their lives are on the line.

"We sort of have a one-size-fits-all program," said Polk County District
Judge Robert Hutchison, who manages the 2000 drug court. "If you're black,
you may not fit in so well."

The study looks at drug court participants from its inception in August
1996 through September 1998. A final version will be out in the fall,
analyzing whether the program saves the system money and relieves crowded
prisons.

Officially dubbed the Intensive Supervision Program, drug court takes
non-violent addict offenders and puts them through intensive
substance-abuse treatments, random urine testing, GED classes and nightly
curfew checks. The program works not only on a felon's drug habit but also
on the criminality. Before starting, clients must sign confessions to the
charges. If they can't make it, they're off to jail.

During the three-year study, probation officers, county attorneys and
judges brought 124 clients into Iowa's first drug court. Of the 124, 52
graduated - a 42 percent success rate.

"You can say, 'Wow, 58 percent failed,' "" Hutchison said. "But take a look
at those who don't go to drug court. There's about 82 percent failure" for
those who get out of prison."

While 46 of 95 whites graduated, only four of the 23 African-American
participants completed the program. Two clients listed themselves as "other."

Drug court sponsors say many theories explain the disparity. Maybe the
devil is in the drug preference. White clients generally prefer meth, while
African-Americans get hooked on crack-cocaine. Perhaps it's because meth
wrecks addicts' appearance quickly, while crack takes longer to destroy.

Whatever the reason, everyone from judges to former clients say drug court
must address diverse backgrounds and addictions.

"We have blacks in 12-step programs designed for white males," said Richard
Bates, drug court program director. "We need facilities for cultural
differences. We need to provide substance-abuse therapy for people in Iowa."

Counseling and treatment seem to work for white clients who put in their
time, learn to cope and kick their addiction before going back to suburban
America, Bates said. Drug court's African-American clients often return to
a different environment.

Drug court costs about $300,000 to $350,000 per year. Advocates say it's a
bargain to the system, and no matter what the cost, the graduates are a
plus for society.

"There are always going to be setbacks," said Polk County Attorney John
Sarcone. "It's a good investment that needs a little tweaking."

District Judge Linda Reade sat on drug court in its inception. The judge
said she's rarely surprised to see someone relapse. Unlike a lot of drug
courts, Polk County takes on high-risk clients.

Some participants fail drug court, but succeed later. Cindy Rekmanis, who
is white, was kicked out of the program in 1997. She couldn't stop using
meth, and a urine test proved it.

Out of the program, she spent time in jail for forgery. Then something
clicked. All the messages from drug court started coming back to her, she
said. She got clean after 25 years, and moved to Kansas City, Kan., to work
at a prison ministry service.

"If it wasn't for that program, I would have slipped right through," she said.

Numbers

Statistics about people in drug court:

* Almost 80 percent are white.

* 61 women and 63 men were in drug court during the study.

* The average age is about 30. Most have some high school education.

* About half have not worked in the six months before admittance.

* Five of every six clients have undergone previous drug treatments.

* More than half have two or more relatives involved with drugs.

* Clients average 314 days in the program.