DRUG TREATMENT INITIATIVE ANNOUNCED

LOUISVILLE - John P. Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy,
came to Kentucky yesterday to discuss a new plan to expand and improve the
nation's substance abuse treatment programs.

Walters gave details of President Bush's "Access to Recovery" treatment
initiative to create a voucher program to provide people with drug or
alcohol dependencies better treatment options and treatment centers with
more resources.

Walters, who spoke at Louisville's Volunteers of America center, said he
came to Kentucky to discuss this national effort because of the drug
problems facing this region.

"I know from the national data that we have that this area of the country
has particularly and disproportionately been affected by substance abuse,"
Walters said.

Parts of Eastern Kentucky ranked the highest nationally per capita in
distribution of narcotics from 1998 through 2001, according to an analysis
of federal data by the Herald-Leader. Those narcotics begin as legal
medicines, but many are diverted into illegal sales and abuse, according to
the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

A special state commission says Kentucky ranks 44th in the nation in
spending for mental-health and substance-abuse treatment.

"I know that the disproportionate effect here has caused a strain, but it
has also obviously caused the creation of some remarkable institutions. We
are aware that these institutions are under strain," Walters said, adding
that this strain is what led the federal government to create the program.

With the Access to Recovery program, people suffering from substance abuse
will be given vouchers that will allow them to receive the treatment they
need at a center participating in the program. States will be able to
receive grant money and get their centers involved by submitting proposals.

The $600 million for the program would be used to reimburse participating
centers for treating patients with vouchers.

To ensure that only effective treatment centers are a part of the program,
Walters said the centers would be evaluated and those not adequately
helping patients would not be reimbursed.

Walters said Congress knows that most of America's treatment programs are
successful and that the challenge is to make the programs available to more
people. "We need to save more lives as soon as possible," he said.

U.S. Rep. Anne Northup, R-Ky., joined Walters in support of the program
yesterday.

Money for the initiative would also be used to create more centers in areas
lacking adequate treatment options such as rural communities.

Waiting lists are long at the treatment centers that serve Eastern Kentucky.

More prevention programs, especially in schools, would also be funded
through the program. Walters said that 23 percent of the people in the
country dependent on illegal drugs are teen-agers.

About 55 percent of Kentucky high school seniors surveyed in 2001 reported
using marijuana at least once during their lifetimes.

Walters said the Access to Recovery program will help Bush's plan to
increase substance abuse treatment funding by $1.6 billion over the next
five years.

Press Secretary Jennifer de Vallance said if the plan is approved by the
federal appropriations committee this fall, the program could begin in
early 2004.