CITY CHECKS NEED FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITY

An estimated 75 to 80 percent of all the cases that Judge Henry
Griffin sees in circuit court are connected to drug and alcohol
abuse. And many offenders could benefit from a long-term residential
treatment program.

But Owensboro lacks adequate treatment facilities for adults and
adolescents addicted to drugs and alcohol, officials say.

So last week, several met to try to correct that problem.

"It needs to be lifted up and given some priority, because it is
probably the most serious social problem in this area at this time,"
Griffin said. "It is growing and not getting better."

City Commissioner Olive Burroughs requested the meeting Friday to
begin studying whether the area needs more treatment facilities. In
May, a group of Owensboro officials will tour a facility in
Louisville, The Healing Place, and then meet again in June to
reassess needs.

Federal funding is available for expanding treatment, Burroughs said.
And the city is looking at property to locate a treatment facility,
although she would not say where it is.

It's still too early to pinpoint exact needs and gaps, but the
RiverValley Prevention Center is working with the Kentucky Agency for
Substance Abuse Policy, a state program, on a study that should be
ready by April, said Gary Hall, senior director at the prevention
center.

Burroughs said the group that met last week will look at the study
when they meet this summer.

"It's important that we not stick this issue in a closet any longer,"
she said. "The very few people who aren't affected (by drugs) are
blessed. But I think the majority of people are affected. We need to
create an awareness that you don't hide it. It is something that you
address to at least make a dent in it."

Owensboro does have some treatment services, such as the Regional
Chemical Dependency program, formerly RAR in Henderson. It can house
10 inpatients, said Mike Todd, its director of substance abuse
services.

But it's not at capacity and had only six residents on Tuesday, he
said. Todd disputes the need for another facility. He would prefer to
see more collaboration with existing services.

"Why don't we get together and do something that's collaborative?"
Todd asked. "This is a community problem. It goes beyond quick fixes.
My issue has always been collaboration."

The longer a person is in a treatment program, the better the chance
for recovery, said Todd, a certified substance abuse counselor with
16 years of experience. But that doesn't necessarily have to be
inpatient treatment.

An optimal program may include inpatient treatment at first, then a
move toward intensive outpatient therapy.

The traditional 28-day inpatient program on which many treatments are
based was designed years ago to fit the needs of white alcoholic
males, he said. But today's problem user often abuses multiple drugs
and alcohol, requiring individualized plans that may include up to 90
days of therapy.

Assigning addicts to the same treatment plan would be like doling out
the same type of health care to people with different medical
conditions, Todd said.

"When I'm not at capacity, somebody needs to tell me why we need
another residential treatment facility," he said.

In addition to the RCD program, services are available at Owensboro
Mercy Health System. It has an eight-bed inpatient program for people
undergoing detoxification and day treatment programs where patients
can spend eight hours in the hospital. Average length of stay for the
inpatient services is three to five days, according to information
provided by OMHS.

Burroughs said the city wants to "see what is out there and what
groups are working and work together to make sure we have the best
impact."

It would also like to design a brochure listing all treatment options
to which families and the courts could refer.

"I think it's pretty important that we have some inventory done of
what is actually available here so that people can have access to it
and use it before they get to the point of law enforcement issues,"
Griffin said. "Many, many people whom I see that we refer to local
treatment programs don't make it and then they come back" to court.