PROJECT GOAL: HELP ADDICTS BREAK HABIT AND FIND JOB

Local News - A pilot program aimed at treating drug addicts and alcoholics
who receive social assistance is underway in Prince Edward and Lennox and
Addington counties.

The program, created for people in the Ontario Works program, has received
$150,000 in startup funding, said Anne Machowski of the Ministry of
Community, Family and Children's Services.

Rick Williams, director of social services for Prince Edward-Lennox and
Addington, said the pilot would be used as the funding model for the rest
of Ontario when the treatment program goes provincewide in 2005.

The Algoma, Thunder Bay and Parry Sound districts are the other areas where
the program has been implemented. Additional sites are expected to be
approved by the end of the year.

'Basically the province is paying 100 per cent of our costs through this
development stage, offsetting some costs that would be borne by the
treatment agencies themselves,' Williams said.

This program takes the costs associated with entering treatment into
consideration, Williams said.

covers costs

'We pay transportation costs, childcare costs and some program-related
costs.' These 'program-related costs' can cover things like recreational
programs, stress management counselling and even hobbies for addicts to
pursue in conjunction with their treatment, Williams said.

The costs of the program are worthwhile for taxpayers, said Stafford
Murphy, executive director of Lennox & Addington Addiction Services.

'If you can help somebody who has a substance abuse problem, they're less
likely to have health-care-related costs, they're likely to be involved
with crime S [and] they're less likely to need Ontario Works,' Murphy said.

Since the pilot program began four months ago, 42 people have begun
treatment, which represents about five per cent of the Ontario Works
caseload for the area.

Eventually, the number of people who receive treatment is expected to
double, Williams said. Forms of treatment vary, and can include attending
Alcohol Anonymous meetings, group counselling and meetings with an
addiction councillor.

The Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services estimates that
five to 15 per cent of people on social assistance have problems with drugs
or alcohol.

Some people were apprehensive about the pilot program because they thought
drug testing would be mandatory to receive social assistance, Williams said