WHEN AN ADDICT FINISHES DETOX

To the Editor:

Re "Revolving Door for Addicts Adds to Medicaid Cost" (front page,
April 17):

We applaud New York State's efforts to reduce costly inpatient
detoxification services and improve the overall quality and outcomes
of care. It is essential that savings from these efforts be reinvested
in effective community-based chemical dependency services.

Housing remains a critical issue, and New York City and State have
committed to programs that will build 1,500 units of supportive
housing for people with addictions, increase case management and
provide detoxification services in homeless shelters.

Yet much more remains to be done to reduce chemical dependency in New
York City. We must scale up our use of "brief intervention," a
technique proved to reduce problem drinking, and continue to expand
the use of buprenorphine, the first new treatment for opiate addiction
in four decades.

Joshua Rubin

Assistant Commissioner for Mental Hygiene Policy

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

New York, April 18, 2007