Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 Source: Kingston Whig-Standard (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 The Kingston Whig-Standard Contact: http://www.kingstonwhigstandard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/224 Author: Sean McGrady Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) 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 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom