Pubdate: Wed, 28 Dec 2005
Source: Idaho Mountain Express (ID)
Copyright: 2005 Express Publishing, Inc
Contact:  http://www.mtexpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2296
Author: Matt Furber, Express Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

HAILEY TREATMENT CENTER UNDERUSED

Surprisingly, Nancy Kneeland, who left the Wood River Valley when she
was 18, said she is not too busy at the Hailey branch of The Walker
Center for drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation.

"There is no waiting list," she said, surprised that there is a
perception that the treatment facility on River Street in Hailey is
overwhelmed with people suffering from methamphetamine addiction. It
is in the realm of inpatient services in a residential program where
needs are not met in the Wood River Valley.

The Walker Center has immediate inpatient services at its facility in
Gooding for clients who do not require government assistance. Those
who do require financial help go onto a waiting list, which can mean a
wait to begin treatment of as many as six weeks, said Walker Center
CEO Bud Starr.

"We have priority populations," Starr said. "A pregnant woman who is
an intravenous drug user goes to the top of the list. Then there's the
pregnant women with children."

Priorities for who gets a bed first are set by regulations governing
federal block grant money that goes to aiding people with inpatient
treatment.

The Walker Center takes insurance, too, but with methamphetamine
addiction pressure for more intensive inpatient services does
overwhelm the current system, said Blaine County Deputy Prosecuting
Attorney Warren Christiansen. There is a definite need for facilities
to help care for people, especially in the early weeks of treatment
and rehabilitation for long-term users of methamphetamine, he said.

"Three decades of scientific research and clinical practice have
yielded a variety of effective approaches to drug addiction
treatment," Kneeland said in a presentation to the Blaine County
Community Justice Council, which held a quarterly meeting at the
Community Campus in Hailey earlier this month. "Effective treatment of
meth abuse requires longer treatment protocols. This includes, but is
not limited to, three to six months of intensive inpatient treatment
or nine to 12 hours of intensive outpatient work consisting of three
to four hours, four to five times per week. Both of these are followed
by extended aftercare groups lasting two years."

Kneeland said the Gooding-based organization, where inpatient services
are provided for juveniles and adults, will try to meet whatever
demand for outpatient services she receives in Hailey. There are two
main programs offered. First is an eight-week program that meets a
minimum of nine hours per week for $2,150. The second is a 12-week
program that meets six hours a week for the same price.

Kneeland said financial aid is available for both programs, and
clients are set up with jobs and other aftercare programs for the
hours that they are not in treatment.

With nearly 1,400 adult probation cases alone, a vast majority of
which are drug and alcohol related, Kneeland said she understands that
courts and probation officers at the state and county level have an
overwhelming workload. Even for court-ordered treatment, she said she
understands why she only has about eight regular clients at any given
time -- enforcement has its hands full. But, Kneeland said, she is
nonetheless disappointed that not more people take advantage of
services that are offered in the community for people suffering from
meth addiction.

"I think that the stigma of going even to AA to those places with
those people ... people don't realize that treatment is a stunning
investment in their lives and themselves," said Kneeland, nearly 20
years sober herself. "Families are reluctant to come in."

The Hailey office offers a special treatment program on Tuesdays that
is free and open to the public.

"It is not very well unattended," Kneeland said. "The stigma is not
just the person who comes in (experiencing) shame and guilt. People
who come in are so brave because they are battling so many things."

Kneeland said the key is family attendance, which makes treatment so
much more effective, especially if family members have issues with
addiction themselves.

"Life is easier is when you are ignorant," Kneeland said. "Closing
your eyes to the problems allows people to become sicker and sicker."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake