SCANT NUMBERS ON DRUG TREATMENT

Just 18 percent of cocaine users under the city's probation supervision
received meaningful drug treatment, according to a report released yesterday
by City Comptroller Alan Hevesi. Hevesi's office tracked the rate of
recidivism over four years among cocaine users who underwent drug treatment
as part of their probation.

Of 147 probationers, he said, just 26 completed half of the drug treatment
program.

The others either attended less than half of the program or did not go at
all. Of the group that had the most treatment, 39 percent were arrested for
committing another crime.

But 74 percent of those who did not participate in treatment committed
another crime.

Hevesi said oversight of the program was minimal.

For example, punishment of those who did not comply with treatment was
nonexistent, even when it was part of the court-ordered terms of probation,
he found.

"Very frequently, the history of implementation of the program is such that
those who are placed in drug treatment are not followed, not monitored and
not required to complete their drug treatment," Hevesi said. "If you have
probationers complete drug treatment, you cut recidivism rate in half."
Probation Commissioner Raul Russi said he agrees with Hevesi's
recommendations and had already taken steps to make the treatment programs
more effective.

In 1997, the Giuliani administration provided for $1 million in additional
funds annually to expand the number of treatment slots.

This year, the agency issued "performance-based contracts," which require
private drug treatment providers to demonstrate that their programs are working.

Russi said individuals who do ignore drug treatment requirements will face
violation of their probation.

ILLUSTRATION/PHOTO: AP File Photo - City Comptroller Alan Hevesi