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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, April 29, 2008
| Contact: |
Sherri
McDonald, Director,
Thurston
County
Public Health and Social Services,
360-786-5581 |
|
Erik Landaas, Chemical Dependency Treatment, 360-786-5581 |
|
Doug Allen, Director-Division of Alcohol and Substance
Abuse, DSHS, 360-725-3700 |
Additional
Treatment Dollars Mean Help for Addicts and Cost Savings
OLYMPIA
– A new study by the state Department of Social and Health Services has
shown that additional money spent on chemical dependency treatment has
assisted addicts and saved money for taxpayers.
Officials with Thurston County Public Health and Social Services say
their experience supports the state’s findings.
The study tracked treatment spending in the wake
of a $38.7-million legislative allocation passed in 2005.
In general terms, the information showed that an additional 4,211
people were able to access treatment because of the increase in funding.
The study also indicated that chemical dependency treatment under
Medicaid and General Assistance funds saved between $149.00 and $287.00 per
month, per person that would otherwise be spent in other ways on the addicted
individual.
Erik Landaas, of
Thurston
County
’s Chemical Dependency program, says the people served under the increased
funding were in need of intensive case management.
“The people who received treatment have substance challenges that are
severe enough that they impact the system in many different ways.
Often they wind up in detox, in mental health facilities, in community
health facilities, the emergency rooms, the jail and the court system.
In those facilities they can be stabilized, but unless we get some
actual treatment for their chemical dependency, they often go through the
revolving door right back into the system.
In the long term that is much more expensive than treatment and
that’s what the state study and our experience, seems to demonstrate.”
The additional state funding amounted to an
increase for Thurston County Public Health youth treatment programs of
$257,000 and funding of $422,000 for adult treatment programs.
Landaas says that allowed more treatment opportunities and a quicker
and easier path into treatment for those who need it.
The treatment services included; Youth outpatient, Adult outpatient,
Opiate treatment, Intensive case management, Group care enhancement and
Nursing home services.
Landaas says there are a lot of community partners who contribute to the
provision of chemical dependency services including-
·
Alternatives Professional Counseling
·
BHR Recovery Services
·
Educational Service District 113 – True North Student
Assistance Program
·
Evergreen Treatment Services – South Sound Clinic
·
Northwest Resources
·
Providence
St. Peter Chemical
Dependency Center
·
SeaMar
Community
Health
Center
Sherri McDonald, Director of Thurston County Public Health and Social
Services, says she has never seen an expansion of treatment services like this
program. “We typically have
trouble finding enough treatment spaces to meet the demand.
It was a challenge at times under this additional funding, to find the
capacity that we could now pay for. Because
of our excellent relationship with the state, with our community-based
providers and the Community Service Offices in Thurston and
Mason
Counties
, we were able to steer folks through the qualifications and get them into a
program where they could find the assistance they need.
This has been an excellent increase in treatment capacity and we
certainly hope it continues.”
To find out more about the Department of Social and Health Services study
visit DSHS on the web at http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/hrsa/dasa/TxExpUpdate.pdf
Those who wish to find out more about Thurston County Public Health and
Social Services’ Chemical Dependency programs can go to http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/sscd/index.html
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