ABUSE RESEARCH FUNDED

The Oklahoma attorney general's office is using $200,000 from a lawsuit
settlement with Mylan Laboratories to pay for research by the Governor's
Task Force on Mental Illness Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence.
Attorney General Drew Edmondson told members that the money, which was left
unclaimed in the settlement, could be used to pay for a study the group
will use to put together recommendations.

"The recommendations and report that come from this task force could have a
dramatic impact on crime and the incarceration rate in Oklahoma," Edmondson
said.

The money comes from the state's share of a $100 million settlement in 2001
with Mylan. The pharmaceutical company settled after accusations that it
orchestrated illegal price increases for lorazepam and clorazepate, generic
drugs used to treat Alzheimer's disease and other afflictions. Any money
left from settlements is placed in an account, and the attorney general
must obtain court permission to use the money, Edmondson's spokesman
Charlie Price said.

The task force, created through an executive order by Gov. Brad Henry, will
examine the costs associated with untreated mental illness, substance abuse
and domestic violence.

Ben Brown, deputy commissioner of substance abuse services, talked about
the domino effect substance abuse has on the economy.

"Your job is a very important one," he told the task force. "You will be
able to ferret out those issues and make decisions about the state's
direction in overcoming these issues."

Secretary of Health Tom Adelson was elected chairman of the task force. The
Rev. Dick Virtue will serve as vice-chairman.

Other members of the board are Dr. Mike Anderson, Presbyterian Health
Foundation; Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby; Oklahoma Mental Health
board members Sue Buck and Jack Turner; University of Central Oklahoma
President Roger Webb; Edmond Mayor Saundra Naifeh; Frank Merrick, of
Foundation Management Inc.; Robin Parrish, from the Governor's office; Bob
Spinks, United Way of Metro Oklahoma City; The Oklahoman Managing Editor
Joe Hight; and Jeff Tallent, Oklahoma City chapter of the National Alliance
for the Mentally Ill.