Pubdate: Tue, 18 Dec 2007
Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK)
Copyright: 2007 The Anchorage Daily News
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18
Author: Ron Greene

SPEND STATE'S BUDGET SURPLUS TREATING SUBSTANCE ABUSE

With all the attention given to alcohol- and other drug-related 
crimes in the news lately, I have to ask this question: Are the 
Alaska legislators, the governor and the people of Alaska missing the 
boat here?

When detox facilities close and people are denied access to substance 
abuse treatment, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out 
what's going on here. Alcohol- and drug-related crimes annually cost 
this state three-quarters of a billion dollars. So the governor asks, 
what should the state do with the surplus money it has? It's a 
no-brainer, governor. Put it into substance abuse treatment.

The state of Alaska boasts about its no-wrong-door policy when it 
comes to substance abuse treatment. The people on these program wait 
lists, some of whom have been waiting for months, will tell you it's 
more like the closed-door policy, because every time they seek help, 
they are denied access. A young woman died this summer from a drug 
overdose waiting to get into a state-funded program I work for. 
Granted, she took the drugs that ultimately took her life, but she 
also had the courage to seek treatment knowing her life had become 
unmanageable. How many more people have to die?

- -- Ron Greene

Anchorage
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