DRUG TREATMENT FACILITY OPENING

TULSA -- A 52-bed substance abuse treatment facility for pregnant women and
women with children will open Monday, after several years of planning by
the state Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Department. The center
will be owned by the Mental Health Department, with treatment provided by
Palmer Continuum of Care, a subsidiary of the Palmer Drug Abuse Program of
Tulsa.

"The need for this center is absolutely overwhelming," said Ben Brown,
state deputy commissioner of substance abuse services.

"As a state, Oklahoma doesn't have nearly enough treatment facilities for
pregnant women and women with dependent children. This center won't solve
our problems entirely, but it will have a significant and long-lasting
impact," Brown said.

Harold Katz, executive director of the Palmer program, said Palmer has
subcontracted with a number of other Tulsa-area organizations to provide
gender-specific services.

"In addition to female-specific treatment developed by Dr. Stephanie
Covington, a consultant to the Betty Ford Center, we will have a
specialized curriculum for school-aged children, and a highly focused
family program."

The facility will have a licensed child care center.

Many of the women receiving treatment are expected to have histories of
enduring domestic violence. Counseling for those women will be provided by
Domestic Violence Intervention Services Inc. of Tulsa.

Family & Children's Services Inc. will provide child therapy services and
female-specific counseling services.

The average length of stay will be three to four months.

The curriculum for school-age children, developed by Betty Ford Center
psychologist Jerry Moe, will employ activities ranging from art to
literature designed to "help children understand that their mother's
addiction is not a 'reflection' of themselves, and that they don't need to
take responsibility for her disease," Katz said.

Brown said he is thankful to Tulsa legislators, Tulsa County officials and
others who helped make the center possible.

The Legislature appropriated $1.9 million for the center.