PANEL URGES PROGRAMS FOR ADDICTS

SALEM - A panel Friday urged the governor and lawmakers to devote
millions of dollars more to what it called the "rebuilding" of a drug
and alcohol abuse treatment program that has been overwhelmed by
budget cuts and methamphetamine addicts.

"The data show that time is running out for Oregon to act," said Ann
Uhler, chairwoman of the Governor's Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs.

The council's biennial report and recommendations for the 2007
legislative session were delivered Friday to Gov. Ted Kulongoski and
the Legislature.

Uhler said the need for better and more expanded treatment can be
seen in costs being borne elsewhere in public safety and human
services programs. advertisement

"Foster care has increased by 45 percent over the past four years due
to a huge increase in drug- and alcohol-related arrests," she said.

The report found that the Legislature reduced treatment services by
at least $45 million in the past four years.

Its recommendations include:

A 20 percent increase in publicly financed treatment.

Doubling state-financed prevention efforts to $4.5 million.

A 15 percent increase in payments to treatment providers in 2005-07.

An increase in drug-free housing by at least 2,000 beds statewide.

Increasing substance-abuse treatment for prison inmates and those who
have been released by 20 percent. The state Department of Corrections
says 66 percent of men and 80 percent of women have a history of
alcohol and other drug abuse.

Increase the number of state police officers. This in response to
data showing that 40 percent of 2003 traffic fatalities were related
to alcohol or drug intoxication.

The report says Oregon served 71 percent of the estimated number of
people needing publicly financed alcohol and other drug treatment
four years ago compared with 53 percent during 2004-05.

The report says that treatment programs have been overwhelmed by
methamphetamine-related admissions.

For the past decade, Oregon has led the nation in the share of
treatments associated with methamphetamine addiction.

Robyn McGregor of Eugene-based Serenity Lane Health Services, which
provides drug and alcohol treatment, said the need for increased
treatment is immediate.

"The window for somebody to ask for help is very small and sometimes
closes very quickly," said McGregor, manager of clinical services.
"When they get put on a waiting list for a six-month wait, many of
them drop off. They eventually stop calling."