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
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom