WAITING LIST DWINDLES AFTER DRUG REHAB PROGRAM STARTS CHARGING CLIENTS

When the Salvation Army's Adult Rehabilitation Program changed to a
partial fee-based system for substance abuse treatment last month,
the waiting list shrunk from 101 people to 26 people.

"The only thing that has changed is that it is now a fee-based
program," said program director Robert Deal. "Unfortunately, a lot of
people who need the program the most will drop through the cracks
because they can't afford to pay."

Established in 1995, the Adult Rehabilitation Program is a six-month,
state-licensed substance-abuse treatment program, the only long-term,
and until recently, free program between Denver and Salt Lake City.
The program can house 18 men and 10 women in its two separate houses
on Grand Avenue for a treatment period of six months.

"We have switched to a partial fee-based system of $2,400, which is
very reasonable," said Major Alfred Parker head of the Mesa County
chapter of the Salvation Army. "I've had parents tell me they've
spent $100,000 on their child's treatment, so $2,400 is hardly anything."

Once the program is full of paying clients, the Salvation Army will
begin offering about six scholarships per year, Parker said.

The program is financed mainly by the proceeds from four Salvation
Army thrift stores in the area. In the past few years store proceeds
have declined, and at the same time program costs have increased, Parker said.

Cost cutting began with terminating two staff positions in July,
reducing the program's staff to five full-time employees. More
changes were necessary, however, and the program temporarily stopped
accepting new clients for several weeks while administrators assessed
the program's needs, Parker said.

Because of the program's difficulty, completion rate is only about 55
percent, Deal said. Of those 55 percent, 80 percent are still clean
and sober a year later, Deal said.

"The completion rate is average," Deal said, "but the 80 percent is
extremely high."

The cost for treating one client for a six-month period is about
$10,000, Deal said. The entire program has an annual budget of about
$500,000, he said.

According to Mesa County Department of Human Service estimates, the
costs of sending one person through the judicial system, assuming the
person is convicted and incarcerated for a drug offense, costs
between $200,000 and $300,000.

"Incarceration is more expensive, but when you ask the state to pay
for treatment, funds always seem to be short," Deal said.

Parker said there is the possibility of other funding sources.

"The lynch pin will be the county fees," Parker said, referring to
the county's new Fast Track program, which is in the planning stages.

Created by Chief Deputy District Attorney Dan Rubinstein, the Fast
Track program is designed to offer methamphetamine users the
opportunity to enroll in treatment instead of jail. Fees for
treatment would be paid by the county.

The Fast Track program will be for a limited number of clients, Deal said.

"The people who aren't going to be able to use the program are the
ones who are really down and out," Deal said. "People who can pay
still have families who support them and access to funds."

If an addict has $2,400, and options are treatment or making a drug
deal, unfortunately many will choose the drug, Deal said.

Another concern Deal has is that people will commit another crime to
pay for their treatment.

"We are back to people who don't have money falling through the
cracks," Deal said.