Pubdate: Wed, 19 May 2004 Source: Belmont Citizen-Herald (MA) Copyright: 2004 Community Newspapers Inc. Contact: http://www2.townonline.com/belmont/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3552 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) STATE FACES ITS DRUG PROBLEMS Massachusetts has one of the highest drug and alcohol abuse rates in the nation, and is ranked first for Oxycontin and heroin use. It's about time the commonwealth got serious about its drug problems. This week, Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey unveiled a proposal to increase funding for prevention and rehabilitation services, and the state Legislature seems likely to approve some version of the plan in the near future. The Romney Administration's new plan emphasizes drug use in schools. High school and middle school students are just one demographic group among the substance-abusing population, but they are an important group. Young people tend to be less committed to their drug habits, and more able to break their habits, than those who have been addicted longer. And in the controlled environment of school, they are more easily identified. We don't support the Romney Administration's proposal to encourage drug testing of high school students. We believe random drug testing is excessive and punitive, and assumes students are guilty until proven innocent. We do support treatment for convicted substance abusers. The current responses to drug abusers - usually either incarceration or parole with drug testing - have little impact on the long-term problems. Unfortunately, the administration's proposal does not include enough funding to provide drug treatment for every substance abuser who wants to stop. Healey said the requested budget appropriation of $9.1 million would help 6,000 to 8,000 more drug users get rehab services. But a recent Brandeis University study estimated that 40,000 Massachusetts residents sought drug abuse treatment last year, but were denied because of a lack of resources. Although the current plan is not enough, it is a step in the right direction. The first step is for Massachusetts to stop denying its drug and alcohol problems, and to seek a permanent cure. - --- MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman