SAN MATEO COUNTY ADDS DRUG FUNDING

Faced with increased drug abuse cases and the worst level of treatment in
the state, San Mateo County began a $4 million expansion Tuesday of
prevention and treatment programs.

County supervisors unanimously approved $616,000 this fiscal year to begin
raising the county's scant offering of 11 treatment slots. The county plans
to boost the slots to 13 by June 1999, but won't reach the statewide
average of 22 spaces until 2004.

``We have an unacceptable waiting period for people who want to move on
with their lives and get out from under this cloud (of addiction),'' said
County Supervisor Ruben Barrales.

Prevention services accounts for 20 percent of the county's $5.7 million
Alcohol and Drug Services budget.

The county's commitment -- which is to be fulfilled over seven years --
underscores official recognition that simply locking up drug and alcohol
offenders without treating the underlying addiction is a costly and
ineffective strategy.

``The costs of untreated substance abuse are staggering,'' said the
county's new strategic plan for strengthening prevention and treatment.
Officials stressed that unchecked drug abuse fuels society's worst
problems: domestic violence, child abuse, AIDS, mental illness,
homelessness and car fatalities.

San Mateo County residents seeking drug treatment had to wait an average of
50 days in 1997, the second worst delay among the state's 15 largest
counties (Kern County ranked worst with 102 days). By comparison, the
waiting period was 32 days in Santa Clara County, 29 days in Alameda County
and 19 days in San Francisco County.

``It's a very discouraging feeling when someone finally gets the courage to
admit, `I've got a problem and I need help' and they're told: `OK, you're
going to have wait two weeks (to) three months,' '' said Priya Haji,
executive director of Free At Last, an East Palo Alto treatment program.

Haji said her program has 45 treatment slots, but has to turn away about 60
people every month. ``That's not just happening in our community, that's
happening all across the county,'' she added.

County Human Services Director Maureen Borland said treatment and
prevention has been hampered, partly because the county historically
received less in federal and state funding than other counties and because
of the political unpopularity and expense of locating community services in
the Peninsula's pricey real estate market.

Officials said people who oppose residential treatment centers in their
neighborhood need to face facts. ``These people are living in your
community now. It's better to have them (living there) in recovery,'' said
Yvonne Frazier, head of County Alcohol and Drug Services.

Supervisor Rich Gordon said non-profit service providers and county
officials can push to expand treatment opportunities faster than the
seven-year plan.

``I'm hopeful that if we work together, we can do more sooner,'' Gordon said.

1997 - 1998 Mercury Center.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan