
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 21, 1990                   TAG: 9006210357
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DANIEL E. KARNES
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FUNDS FOR DRUG-USER TREATMENT

MENTAL Health Services of the Roanoke Valley is the public agency designated in the Code of Virginia to provide alcohol and other drug-abuse prevention and treatment services - two of the three "weapons" in the "war against drugs" discussed in the editorial June 3.

We agree that prevention and treatment have been undervalued in the efforts to combat drug abuse and to reduce the demand for illicit drugs. After 20 years of service provision locally, we are gratified that research on effectiveness of treatment for addictions is demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of these efforts.

We would like to clarify some information about the local situation. First, no one is refused the services of our agency because of inability to pay.

Second, unlike some larger cities, Roanoke's waiting lists (although still too long) are shorter than the national average. For example, the average time between request and admission to an outpatient treatment program is 22 days nationally, but 10 days locally to New Directions.

Some of our programs are too small, and some service gaps are problematic. We continue to apply for funding to address the problem of long-term residential treatment for adolescents, and expect that with public support we will eventually succeed. In the meantime we are adressing the need for adolescent care through prevention, early intervention and outpatient strategies.

Public funding for these programs is a shared responsibility of federal, state and local governments. According to a recent report by the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, less than 1 percent of the cost of alcohol and other drug problems has been allocated from all sources combined to treat or prevent these problems. In the last two sessions of the General Assembly, $2 million proposed by the governor for prevention and treatment of alcohol addiction was excised from the budget.

If we expect to be successful at reducing demand, while the law enforcement officers work to reduce supply, then the public must support increased funding for prevention and treatment.

by CNB