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Problem: Funding
Drug court depends heavily on the state's Comprehensive Care mental health system to provide substance-abuse treatment for its participants. The amount allocated by the legislature for substance-abuse treatment through Comprehensive Care has remained constant for 15 years at $10 million a year, according to Karyn Hascal, deputy director of Kentucky's Office of Drug Control Policy. An annual federal grant of $20 million has not changed, either, greatly taxing the system as drug courts have grown. Each year, according to state figures, 375,000 Kentuckians need substance-abuse treatment. About one in 12 will get it.
Solution: Hascal said workers in the system and recovery activists routinely ask the Kentucky legislature to increase funding for treatment. But, she said, "substance abuse is a hard sell." Many people still view it as a moral failing more than a medical issue, she said.
Hascal said her office is advocating for a bill that would allow non-violent, drug-related offenders to go into treatment for at least 90 days when bond is set. The bill allows for 200 beds in a minimum-security prison. She said this early intervention saves money and puts recovering people back in the community to support themselves and their families.
Also, she said, her office is asking for an expansion of recovery programs in jails. Since 2004, the General Assembly has allocated $1 million a year for 14 jail-based, substance-abuse programs, mostly in rural counties. She'd like to see six more. The program, which is not in Fayette County, serves 900 people; 70 percent of those who complete it are employed and drug-free a year after release.
To contact your legislator, go to www.lrc.ky.gov or call 1-800-372-7181.
Problem: Housing
Suitable drug-free housing is difficult to find, and people with drug-related convictions, such as drug court participants, often are excluded from public housing.
Solution: State or local elected officials or drug court staff can encourage public housing authorities to give drug court participants access to their services. Only those convicted of methamphetamine-related federal charges or sex offenders are banned from tax-funded public housing. Other restrictions are enacted locally.
Problem: Community support
Drug courts often need assistance with support services -- from providing clothing to supplying cakes and decorations for graduation ceremonies. Drug court participants often must rebuild their lives completely.
Solutions: If your church group or organization has a food, clothing or furniture bank, contact your local drug court office.
• Individuals or groups with special areas of expertise can volunteer to do seminars for drug court participants to help them re-enter society. Topics could include how to create a budget, practice yoga or knit. Volunteers with one Kentucky drug court created a sewing circle. Volunteers must undergo criminal background checks. Some areas have found success with anti-drug coalitions.
• Operation UNITE, which operates in 29 Eastern and southern Kentucky counties, has formed anti-drug coalitions that help with addiction education and prevention. For information about forming an anti-drug coalition, call 1-866-678-6483, or go to www.operationunite.org.
• The state Agency for Substance Abuse Policy helps create community boards to combat substance abuse. For information about a board in your area or creating a board, go to www.odcp.ky.gov and click on the button that says "ky-asap," or call 1-888-414-6327 or (502) 564-9564.
Problem: Recovery support
Drug courts depend heavily on programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous to provide mandated regular meetings. These volunteer, non-profit programs are not available in all areas, and drug court participants can overwhelm small groups. Also, AA and NA support the concept of a "higher power"; that can clash with more defined religious beliefs.
Solution: A number of programs offer faith-based alternatives to traditional 12-step programs. Those include:
• Lifeline of East Kentucky helps recovering people and their families. Training is available. Go to www.lifelineofeastky.com or call (606) 599-9457.
• Operation UNITE provides training for and information about recovery-support services. Go to www.operationunite.org or call 1-866-678-6483.
