Pubdate: Tue, 15 Jan 2008
Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)
Copyright: 2008 The Billings Gazette
Contact:  http://www.billingsgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/515
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

STATE INVESTS IN COMMUNITY TREATMENT

Montana's new year started with a forward-thinking initiative to 
address hard-core drug addiction.

Montana has one state-run inpatient addiction treatment center, 
Montana Chemical Dependency Center, in Butte.  The program has 
struggled (as have private programs and outpatient programs) to deal 
with the epidemic of methamphetamine addiction over the past decade. 
The need for inpatient addiction treatment for people who have little 
or no means to pay has far outstripped the resources at MCDC. There's 
often been waiting lists several weeks long to get into treatment. 
Most meth addicts don't wait weeks for treatment; they just don't go.

But starting this month, the state is opening seven small, new, 
long-term residential treatment facilities for low-income adults. The 
first opened at Rimrock Foundation in Billings. All eight Rimrock 
patient slots were filled on its first day of business, according to 
Joan Cassidy, state Chemical Dependency Bureau Chief in Helena.

The Rimrock program and the others will be operated by Boyd Andrew 
Community Services, a Helena-based nonprofit organization that runs 
other treatment and rehabilitation programs in Montana. Boyd Andrew 
subcontracted with Rimrock as well as with other providers around the 
state. The programs in Billings and Boulder will be more intensive 
than the other programs. Programs at Rocky Boy Indian Reservation and 
Great Falls will focus on needs of American Indians.

Referrals to the new program are already coming in from drug courts, 
state-certified addiction programs (which are located in each of the 
56 counties) and probation and parole offices, Cassidy said. 
Generally, participants will be nonviolent people with "minimal 
criminal past" who are motivated to recover, she said.

Although participants will be billed for treatment according to their 
income, most won't be able to pay all of the costs of the six-to 
nine-month treatment.  The 2007 Legislature and Gov. Brian Schweitzer 
allocated $4 million ($2 million per year) to start the program. The 
money is historic because it marks the first time the state has put 
general-fund dollars into addiction treatment for people outside of 
the corrections system. Previously, addiction services were limited 
to whatever federal aid was provided and a share of state alcohol taxes.

The new program puts a priority on effective addiction treatment. 
Significantly, this program can serve people before they land in jail 
or prison. The potential for more cost-effective early intervention 
serves the individual and the state's best interests.

By the time the 2009 Legislature convenes, the new programs may have 
treated 100 addicts - Montanans who probably wouldn't get back to 
health and work without these new community-based programs. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake