Pubdate: Wed, 27 Sep 2006
Source: Times-News, The (ID)
Copyright: 2006 Magic Valley Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.magicvalley.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/595
Author: Joshua Palmer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

FIGHTING ADDICTION

Drug Czar Asks For Cooperation Among Agencies

TWIN FALLS -- Idaho's first drug czar said the state must not fail in 
its fight against rising methamphetamine addiction.

During the United Way campaign kickoff on Monday morning, Jim Tibbs, 
who was appointed July 11, told local business owners and members of 
the community that he will submit a plan to the governor next month 
that will recommend changes to the state's current system of treating 
drug and alcohol addiction.

Although Tibbs did not share details of the plan, he said a 
fundamental part of it is encouraging state agencies to work together 
to prevent and treat methamphetamine addiction.

"I'm not going to pretend that I know everything about drug 
addiction," Tibbs said. "One role of the drug czar is to be 
accountable for agencies involved, so hopefully between the 
interagency committee and the drug czar there will be a collaborative 
process with the ultimate goal being a plan for comprehensive 
substance abuse prevention." This year, the Idaho Legislature passed 
House Bill 833, which created an Interagency Committee on Substance 
Prevention and Treatment, and it budgeted more than $35 million to 
fight the state's growing drug and alcohol addiction.

"This year we organized the first big meeting of the six big 
departments in an effort to build trust and sharing of information," 
Tibbs said. "I am also meeting with agencies throughout the state 
because, it seems to me, that there's kind of a disconnect between 
Boise and the rest of the state."

Eighty-five percent of people incarcerated in Idaho have a documented 
substance abuse problem, and about 98 percent of those people will be 
released, Tibbs said.

Monday morning's event marked the beginning of the United Way of 
South Central Idaho's annual fundraising campaign. The organization 
hopes to raise more than $350,000 to help with problems such as drug addiction.

Local treatment centers, such as the Walker Center, said they need 
more state support.

"We have a big demographic that we serve," said Carmalin Resz, a 
treatment coordinator at the Walker Center. "And what we could use is 
continued support to provide funding for all people."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman