LEHMAN: MEDICAL MARIJUANA 'BIG MISTAKE'

CASSOPOLIS - Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network serves as a
"safety net" for Cass County citizens. Seventy percent of its
consumers are unemployed or employed part-time. Males outnumber
females 2:1. Consumers' median income is $16,000. Their median age
is 33, Steve Lehman reported to the Board of Commissioners Thursday night.

Lehman, who has been addiction services supervisor for 24 years
during a 37-year career which also includes Kalamazoo and St. Joseph
counties, told Commissioner Ron Francis, R-Cassopolis, he believes
Michigan voters made a "big mistake" in approving medical marijuana Nov. 4.

"From a treatment point of view, it will increase the use of
marijuana," Lehman said. "I don't know that it will increase
addiction per se. Frankly, from a treatment point of view, I believe
in most areas where that law has been in effect, while there have
been some benefits, it's outweighed by the negative effects of
making that drug available to people who don't have a legitimate need for it."

Woodlands Addictions Center in Vandalia employs four full-time
therapists and 1.5 FTE (fulltime equivalent) staff.

Lehman said the generous support of the Cass County commission
through allocation of P.A. 2 liquor excise dollars from Cobo Hall in
Detroit helped Woodlands maintain a basic program structure for many
years in the absence of any state funding increases for 15 years.

"We sincerely appreciate this stable allocation these many years in
support of our services," Lehman said.

Basic services offered to those age 12 and older include substance
abuse outpatient individual and family therapy, group therapy,
assessment and referral services, educational services and community
corrections programming.

Woodlands' program typically admits 350 to 400 people per year.

The predominant diagnosis is related to alcohol - 55 percent on
average - followed by marijuana (20 percent), cocaine (10 percent)
and methamphetamine (8 percent for the past six months).

"What that says to me is more people are seeking treatment
services," Lehman said.

Other substances constitute about 10 percent of admissions.

Growing in numbers of those seeking services are persons with
co-occurring disorders which require coordinated mental health and
psychiatric services.

Lehman said Woodlands is "very unique" in the way substance abuse
and mental health services are integrated, including at the 10-bed
residential treatment center in Vandalia.

"Innovative program highlights" include:

- - Family Treatment Court: FTC brings the Drug Court concept to Judge
Susan Dobrich's Family Court. Staff from addictions services
participate weekly in team staffing and court hearings.

- - Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT): Mental health case
managers, therapists and addictions staff meet regularly to cover
those consumers with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse
needs to enhance integrated care.

- - Community Corrections Educational Series: Addiction services have
been provided to the jail for more than 20 years, bringing
assessment and cognitive behavioral group therapy to offenders who
are incarcerated related to substance abuse disorders. This close,
supportive working relationship with Sheriff Joe Underwood's office
and Community Corrections enables many to begin recovery while incarcerated.

- - Methamphetamine Aftercare Group: Lehman said Woodlands sincerely
appreciates the support of the Sheriff's Office and funding from the
county drug millage for implementation of this new group. Men
and women participate in up to one year of aftercare in this
service for methamphetamine addiction. This is an out-of-custody
group for those who were incarcerated and started therapy while in
jail or prison before release back into the community.