Pubdate: Thu, 19 May 2005
Source: Tewksbury Advocate (MA)
Contact:  http://www2.townonline.com/tewksbury
Address: 150 Baker Ave Ext, Ste 305, Concord, MA 01742
Copyright: 2005 Community Newspaper Company
Author: Cyndi Roy
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

OFFICIAL PREPARE PLAN TO STEM BAY STATE'S DRUG "EPIDEMIC"

With substance abuse reaching epidemic proportions in Massachusetts, Lt. 
Gov. Kerry Healey unveiled a plan this week that funds additional treatment 
services, targets methamphetamine sales, and calls for assistance to school 
districts that test students for drugs.

Massachusetts is among the top 5 percent of states with the highest drug 
and alcohol abuse rates. The Bay State ranks number one for Oxycontin and 
heroin use. In 1996, there were 200 opiate-related fatal overdoses, a 
number that jumped to 449 statewide in 2003. And among teens admitted for 
substance abuse treatment, they were experimenting with the drug at an 
average age of 13.

Healey and other public health officials said there is no single reason 
behind those unwanted rankings, but said a persistent denial of the problem 
likely fuels its prevalence.

Healey shared the administration's plan with members of the Legislature's 
new Committee on Mental Health and Substance abuse before discussing it a 
scheduled press conference Monday morning.

"One thing that came out of my discussion with committee members that 
occurred earlier this morning is the urgency of this problem," she said. 
"We cannot afford to wait any longer to take action on these items."

The administration's 93-page strategic plan focuses on identifying, 
treating and preventing drug use in schools, something which Healey and a 
bipartisan group of lawmakers joining with her said has long been 
overlooked. The plan calls for the state to assist communities with the 
implementation of drug testing on high school students and establishes two 
"sobriety high schools" in Boston and Springfield, where students 
recovering from drug addiction could continue their rehab while finishing 
their education.

States like Minnesota have run sobriety high schools for more than a 
decade, said Sen. Steven Tolman (D-Brighton), co-chairman of the committee. 
Tolman, who two weeks ago demanded that the administration set a date for 
releasing its long-awaited plan, joined with Healey to support the proposal.

"Anybody who wants to pretend that we don't have a problem in every one of 
our communities with Oxycontin and heroin belongs on Mars," Tolman said. 
"It is outrageous. Most of the children that are coming out of detox, we're 
finding, when they're put back in their environment, are failing."

According to Healey, 90 percent of students who attend a sobriety school 
after rehab graduate. Ninety-percent of those who come out of treatment 
programs and go back to their old schools fail, she said.

The strategic plan is predicated on legislative approval of $9.1 million 
included in a supplemental budget filed by the administration earlier this 
year. Healey said the money would help 6,000 to 8,000 more drug users in 
need of rehab services, and attract $14.5 million in federal matching 
funds. Tolman said he expects lawmakers to approve the funds within the 
next two to three weeks.

The state spends more than $250 million a year on substance abuse treatment 
programs, with prevention accounting for just 11 percent of those funds. 
But the state's existing system of prevention and treatment is haphazard, 
Healey said, spread across 13 state agencies that don't communicate with 
each other.

More than 82,000 Massachusetts residents received drug abuse treatment 
services last year. It's estimated another 40,000 sought treatment but were 
denied because of a lack of resources, according to a recent Brandeis 
University study.

As part of the plan, Gov. Mitt Romney also filed legislation that gives 
prosecutors new tools to crack down on methamphetamine. The bill contains a 
list of chemicals that can be used to manufacture meth, as it is known, and 
possession of any one, or combination of, these chemicals with intent to 
manufacture or distribute will constitute a felony offense punishable up to 
five years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines.

"I think all of you probably know the devastation that methamphetamine has 
been causing in other parts of the country," Healey said. "It has been 
marching toward us from the West Coast. It's currently devastating the 
Midwest. We can see that it will soon reach our borders."

The plan also includes the creation of an Interagency Council on Substance 
Abuse and Prevention to coordinate the state's anti-drug efforts. Healey, 
who will chair the council, said members will convene before the end of the 
month.

Other provisions of the plan include:

Implementation of a overdose tracking system in the state's hospitals to 
determine how many people are in need of services;

Expanded detox, step-down, transitional, and residential treatment programs;

A statewide education campaign to educate the public on the risks of 
Oxycontin and other opiods;

Counseling programs in emergency rooms, community health centers, and other 
state agencies;

Expanded treatment services for incarcerated individuals.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Corporations of Massachusetts, Inc., a 
statewide organization of more than 100 mental health and substance abuse 
service providers, applauded the strategic plan. "Now the challenge will be 
to quickly and safely implement the service and capacity enhancement 
recommendations so that families waiting for services get their loved ones 
into treatment as soon as possible," said Elizabeth Funk, President & CEO 
of MHSACM.
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MAP posted-by: Beth