NEW DRUG COURT TO HELP VETERANS

Military veterans with drug-dependency problems will benefit from a
treatment program thanks to a federal grant that enables Pierce County
Superior Court to establish a Veterans Drug Court.

The three-year, $300,000-per-year grant from the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Administration provides an enhancement and expansion of the
Pierce County Drug Court.

Pierce County is home to more than 95,000 veterans, making it one of the
largest veteran populations in the nation. Among them, a large percentage
is recent veterans of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The new program will serve veterans who have become involved with the
criminal justice system, are determined to be drug dependent and who in
many cases suffer from combat-related mental disorders.

Veterans Drug Court will provide a dedicated treatment program in tandem
with the Pierce County Alliance, a nonprofit social service agency located
in Tacoma. The Pierce County Alliance specializes in providing substance
abuse and mental health services for individuals, families and the
community, and it is a longtime treatment provider for Drug Court.

In addition, the new drug court will work in partnership with federal and
state veterans' offices, government agencies and community organizations
to access the range of services needed to stabilize the veteran and
ultimately to reintegrate them into the community through viable
employment, safe shelter and, when needed, reunification with families.

Pierce County's highly regarded Drug Court was formed in 1994. At that
time it was the 23rd Drug Court in the nation to be created. It has been
the recipient of several awards for its contribution to the treatment of
substance abuse and for protection of the community through the reduction
of recidivism among Drug Court's successful graduates.

Superior Court Judge Gary Steiner, a U.S. Army veteran, presides over
Pierce County's Drug Court.