OHIO DRUG-TREATMENT PROVIDERS OPPOSE GOING EASY ON OFFENDERS

A statewide organization representing drug, alcohol and mental-health
treatment providers opposes a proposed amendment to the state
constitution that would send more drug offenders to treatment instead
of jail.

The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities said it
opposes the issue, likely headed for the Nov. 5 ballot, because it
bypasses the legislative process, would hamper fiscal flexibility and
would place "serious limitations" on judges dealing with drug
offenders.

The amendment's backers countered by charging that Gov. Bob Taft's
administration dangled a potential excise tax hike on beer and wine
to raise more money for treatment as an incentive to gain the backing
of treatment providers.

"It seems to indicate a degree of desperation on the part of the
governor ... to provide a quid pro quo to get boards to oppose the
amendment,'' said Ed Orlett of the Ohio Campaign for New Drug
Policies.

A letter by the treatment providers to Paolo DeMaria, Taft's director
of cabinet affairs, said the group passed a resolution opposing the
drug issue with the understanding that the Taft administration would,
among other things, "explore alternatives to secure additional
financial resources,'' possibly including boosting the beer and wine
tax.

However, Taft spokeswoman Mary Anne Sharkey denied any deal.

"The governor's office did not commit to any tax increase for drug-
treatment programs,'' she said. "If the economy turns around, the
governor would support looking for more money for drug treatment.''

The heated debate focuses on a ballot issue which, if approved by
Ohio voters, would mean first- and second-time, nonviolent drug
offenders would be sentenced to treatment programs instead of jail.
The proposal would set aside an additional $38 million for treatment
programs.

The group backing the drug plan has collected more than 175,000 of
the 335,000 signatures necessary to place the issue on the ballot.

Taft opposes the drug plan, charging that it amounts to de facto drug
legalization because it would provide loopholes for drug offenders
and weaken existing drug courts.

Opposition by the association -- people in the trenches representing
drug, alcohol and mental-health treatment -- was "a huge, huge win
for us,'' said Jenny Camper, spokeswoman for Ohioans Against Unsafe
Drug Laws, a group established by Taft to fight the ballot issue.

"This represents the people that are right in the middle of treatment
in this state. We are pleased they see the proposed amendment is bad
policy when it comes to good treatment,'' Camper said.

The ballot issue already was opposed by the Ohio State Medical
Association and organizations representing sheriffs, state troopers
and drug courts.

The treatment association heard from both sides at a May 17 meeting.

Cheri L. Walter, the association's chief executive officer, said her
group -- not Taft's office -- pushed for the excise tax hike on beer
and wine. The idea of boosting the tax to raise $47.6 million was
discussed but discarded during recent deliberations on the state
budget.

"The only commitment that we got from the governor's office was an
agreement to sit down and talk,'' Walter said. "We got nothing else.''