2005 Testimony

Testimony Before The Senate Human Services Committee

Judy Lee, Chairman

SB 2341 - Prescription monitoring program

February 2, 2005

Chairman Lee, members of the Senate Human Services Committee, I am JoAnne Hoesel, Director of the Division of Mental Health & Substance Abuse for the Department of Human Services. I am here today to provide information regarding the Drug & Alcohol Commission’s Mandatory Treatment bill.

The Department of Human Services supports the concept of this legislation but takes a neutral position on the bill, as the funding is not contained in the executive budget.

This bill is a result of collaboration within the Drug and Alcohol commission. This pilot will direct people who have first time felony drug offenses to treatment and uses leveraged coercion. Leveraged coercion provides the offender the choice to engage in treatment or face loss of freedom and can be an extremely effective way to jump start the process of illness management and recovery.

The combination of mandated treatment through this bill and anticipated grant funding obtained through the Substance Abuse/Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Targeted Capacity methamphetamine treatment grant submitted last week by the Department of Human Services provides an opportunity to develop a robust treatment continuum. The grant’s treatment concept is based on research and will wrap services around clients to address the issues bringing them to treatment. This includes structured living, vocational support, childcare, and parent training as examples. The approach places strong emphasis on decreasing medical and social costs of methamphetamine/amphetamine use. The grant will increase residential treatment bed capacity which provides a safe environment prior to treatment

 

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