MENTAL HEALTH COSTS TAKE HEAVY TOLL

Oklahoman Editorial A tasj force assigned to study how much it costs
the state to deal with untreated mental illness, substance abuse and
domestic abuse has come back with a truly staggering figure: about $8
billion a year. That's billion, with a "b."

The study, assigned by Gov. Brad Henry and Attorney General Drew
Edmondson and headed by Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby, found
that direct costs to the state through such things as hospitalization
and imprisonment total about $3 billion per year. The other $5 billion
is the result of lost productivity.

"In fact, these issues account for half of all criminal justice system
expense, more than 11 percent of health-care system expense and are
major contributors to the need for extensive social services," the
report said.

The report found that Oklahoma isn't properly equipped to handle those
who are mentally ill, abuse drugs and alcohol or are domestic abusers.
Too often, these offenders wind up behind bars instead of receiving
treatment, and that costs the criminal justice system more than $1
billion each year to deal with the needs of those with mental illness
or substance abuse.

Nearly one-fifth of those in prison are being treated for mental
illness, the study found. In addition, half of all criminal-justice
system expense can be tied to substance-abuse issues.

Task force members came up with a number of recommendations, including
adding substance-abuse treatment beds for young people, increasing the
number of prevention and early intervention programs, and expansion of
domestic violence shelters and mental health services for children.
Incarceration should be "a last resort for nonviolent offenses," the
task force report said. "It is the least cost-effective governmental
function."

Henry has said he wants to establish more drug courts. That would be a
start. Meantime, the report should give state leaders plenty to ponder
about a problem that isn't going away.