MENTALLY ILL LOSE A LIFELINE AS TREATMENT PROGRAM RUNS OUT OF MONEY

The state's only inpatient program that's just for mentally ill substance
abusers will shut down at the end of the month.

Pioneer Center North, a private hospital housed on the old Northern State
Hospital grounds in Sedro-Woolley, is emptying its 65 beds because state
officials say they no longer have enough money to pay for it. The program is
run by a private company; it was state-run until 1993.

The state Department of Social and Health Services decided to end the
program after losing a lawsuit filed by state workers, who claimed the
private program took their jobs. The state must pay about $5 million in back
pay to the workers.

Other programs in the state treat people with mental illnesses or people
addicted to drugs and alcohol. Because up to 60 percent of people with
mental illnesses also use drugs and alcohol, some programs that are geared
toward one illness or the other end up treating patients with both illnesses.

But the Pioneer Center is the only inpatient program specifically for
mentally ill people who use substances and who want treatment. It draws
people from all over the state. Experts say more programs such as these are
needed, not fewer.

"It's a tragedy," said Gary Cox, a research scientist at the Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Institute at the University of Washington. "These are people with
tremendous needs."

Patients who must leave say they are worried about what might happen to
them. They want to stay longer.

"It's created a lot of anxiety for me," said Troy Perkins, who drinks when
he suffers bouts of depression. "A lot of anger. A lot of fear. I don't want
to die. I want to get my life together. I want to quit feeling bad."

The state's problems started in 1993, when it decided to save money by
closing the Portal program, an inpatient center for mentally ill patients.
About 100 state employees were laid off.

Then state officials decided to set up a new center to treat patients with
mental illnesses and chemical addictions. Pioneer Human Services won the
contract, which pays about $2 million a year, and set up the
center in the same building that had housed the Portal program.

The union for state workers sued, arguing that the two programs were the
same, and that the state had violated its collective bargaining agreement.
State officials argued that the programs were different.

The union won, and the state appealed, but the state Supreme Court decided
in February not to review the lower court's decision.

The state had to end its contract with Pioneer, which plans to lay off more
than 50 workers, and pay the $5 million in back pay.

Union officials say the state should reopen its old program. But DSHS
officials say they can't afford it.

"DSHS has no choice but to close the program," said Ken Stark, director of
the department's Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. "There's no money.
We don't have a guardian angel that writes limitless checks."

So in February, the center stopped accepting new clients. About 20 people
live there, and the program is trying to find them help in their communities.

Sharron Bowman isn't going home to Aberdeen until April 30, the last day the
center is open.

Bowman is addicted to pills and suffers from depression and an anxiety
disorder. She's been in treatment for her addiction, and she's also sought
treatment for her depression. But she's never had a place treat both at the
same time.

Bowman, who's been at the center since Jan. 13, said she wants more time but
is grateful for the help she's received.

"I'm thinking much clearer now," she said. "I don't mind it so much anymore
in the morning when I wake up."