PRIVATE PRISONS BENEFICIARIES OF THE DRUG WAR 20
Liz Allen sent this along ~
Citizens for the Greater Good, and AttackAddictions Coalition just had a meeting with Rita Landgraff, DHSS, House Health Care Committee Members,State Representatives Charles Potter, Jr, and Michael Barbieri. Also attending were Kevin Kelly (DHSS) and Jill Friedel Communications Director for DHSS. Our discussion involved the pandemic of oxycontin and heroin in Delaware and the lack of detox and rehabilitation centers.Citizens for the Greater Good who have huge support from Wilmington City Council, and New Castle County Council, along with community members, other elected officials, churches etc, presented one solution to the issue, the Stockely Center, located in Georgetown, a state wide asset. We delivered a sampling of 10 pages (out of 119) from the Medical Examiners office report of 2012 detailing the high rate of deaths from heroin and oxycontin.We explained in great detail the benefits of using the Stockely Center which could be easily rehabilitated to accommodate a mental health evaluation assessment center, and a full fledged drug/alcohol detox center. We believe the 750acre medical complex is the perfect place for a state rehab center as the the grounds are peaceful, serene, out of drug infested neighborhoods and conducive to healing through a multi-faceted treatment and rehab center.Rita Landgraff explained the current plans of the State in turning 350 acres of the 750 acres into a community park. Advocates believe that idea should incorporate the need for Rehabs since our State faces this pandemic. We advocates pushed for an immediate need for services. The time for talk and discussion is over. We need action. Ms. Landgraff discussed one detox center with 15 beds each would begin in all three counties very soon. WE advocates discussed the fact that detox is only one element and the huge gap in services from detox to rehab is the missing piece. We advocates suggested as an immediate solution the State purchase at least 10 modular homes (that come furnished) that would house 4 clients each. Clients would do their own cooking and housekeeping keeping costs down. We ultimately need over 100 beds statewide but 40 is a good start. If St. Josephs could be purchased cost effectively, would provide the balance of beds needed. We need a study to determine exactly how many beds are needed to address the pandemic.We believe an Individual Plan of Care should be created for each client and the length of stay would be determined by a Medical Team approach. Each client would receive 10 days of detox, and immediately be moved into a rehab facility. After rehab the clients would be offered sober living homes with a State created model for managementand utililized state wide. We suggested the State deliver no contract without a clause stating "the State has the right to have Quality Assurance teams visit those homes, unannounced to determine if the level of treatment, programs and care were meeting contract requirements".Rita discussed the former St. Josephs School in Clayton which could be another possibility, however that means the State would have to purchase the property, rehab it which is a good option but is not as cost effective as using the current state owned Stockely Center. Perhaps we would need to have both as the need in this State is so great.Further, we discussed the number of sober living homes located throughout the State where some run good programs and others do not. The State must tighten the regulations and standards that govern these programs to assure the outcome is worth maintaining those contracts. We discussed an absolute requirement that each of the sober living homes must present data proving they are doing regular tests on their clients, client are meeting their curfews, and are attending their meetings as required to continue living in those homes. If a client living in a Sober Living Home relapses, the person would be sent back to the rehab for further treatment. (Currently that person is put out of their home, made homeless and back on drugs).We all agreed that current services are fragmented throughout the State. Ms. Landgraff discussed the division is working on these issues and how best to serve our citizens.We also agreed that new services must be created immediately to address the pandemic in Delaware. It was a very good meeting with all parties able to make their statements.As the State continues to shut down "doctors prescribing these drugs", clients are going to "heroin" which is easy to obtain. Three people have died in Sussex in the last few days when they couldn't get the oxycontin and used heroin for the first time, which took their lives. Liz Allen suggested that "doctors who have been arrested must be reported by the press". It is unequal when a street drug dealer is on the front pages, but the Doctors with a license have no such media attention! When a few doctors faces are in the media it would send a strong message to those who are prescribing these drugs that end up on the streets for sale.We advocates suggested those now in rehab who are working their programs and doing well should be invited in to middle schools, to talk to young people regarding "life as an addict" and provide some direct insight into how devastating these drugs are to the citizen, their families and their community.Liz Allen questioned why the "medical marijuana dispensaries" have not been provided in Delaware as new studies prove the use of medical marijuana is essential for those attempting to get off opiads and other drugs. We will be contacting the Governor to ask why these dispensaries are not available and what the hold up is?The other most glaring issue facing this state is that Judges have no option but to send drug/alcohol offenders to prison, as there are not enough detox centers and no rehabilitation centers for Judges to send offenders too. Mandatory Sentencing was overturned in 2006 by the US Supreme Court, however some Judges are still using those guidelines during sentencing. We have a Drug Court in Delaware but they are under utilized. In future, no human being using drugs/alcohol should go to jail, they must go into a medical facility so they can return to their families as tax payers. A sentence to prison is a life sentence as the addict is now a felon, with no job, no license, no hope.We know we have many folks who are mentally ill and have been self medicating with drugs and alcohol. Currently many of them are being sentenced to prison (without proper medications) and many end up in solitary confinement.There are many folks who have dual diagnosis who are in desperate need of treatment for their mental illness as well as their drug abuse.Advocates addressed the fact that currently Medicaid is paying for 10 days of detox and your out. Its a waste of money as no one addicted to oxycontin, other opiads or heroin can recover in 10 days. The lack of rehabs after detox is the issue that is most glaring as everyone agreed.Citizens for the Greater Good will be discussing with members of the Joint Finance Committee if they should reconvene to address this issue, and find funding to address this immediate emergency. We can not wait until the legislature reconvenes in January. Too many people will die.If you know anyone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol we urge you to send an email (it will be handled confidentially) to: spktruthtopower200@yahoo.com, or go AttackAddictions (website) for information and meeting. In the very near future Citizens for the Greater Good will have a website: Delaware's Voice, where we can post recommendations, and suggestions to our state legislators and the DHSS.What Delaware really needs is a complete over haul of our system of care. To that end the Delaware Crime and Prevention Act will be delivered to every legislator to begin the discussion on how changes to our system will benefit our citizens, while maintaining cost effective programs, prevention and intervention for children and adults in Delaware.Respectfully submitted:Elizabeth AllenCo-Chair: Citizens for the Greater Good
Also, a doubling of Heroin arrests is projected for Delaware this year....(Cape Gazette) Ryan Mavity and Rachel Swick Mavity report ~ Heroin use on rise at the beach
Statewide, heroin-related arrests are on pace to double over last year. Delaware State Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Shavack said police have handled about 1,000 heroin cases this year; in 2012, police handled 1,163 cases during the whole year, and that was double the 578 cases from 2011.
Shavack said the number of cases could be expected to reach 2,000 by the end of the this year. Half of this year's cases were in New Castle County, the remainder split between Kent and Sussex.
And ~
Study: Marijuana Use Associated With Decreased Symptoms Of Opiate Withdrawal In Methadone Maintenance Treatment Subjects | Source: blog.norml.org Cannabis consumption is associated with mitigated symptoms of opiate withdrawal in subjects undergoing methadone maintenance treatment, according to the findings of a new study published online in The American Journal on Addictions. “[I]ncreased cannabis use was found to be associated with lower severity of [opiate] withdrawal in a subset of the sample with available chart data,” authors wrote. “These results suggested a potential role for cannabis in the reduction of withdrawal severity during methadone induction.” |
Plus, (WSJ) ~ HAS THE WAR ON DRUGS BEEN LOST ! STOP JAILING THEM AND TREAT THEM...ITS A MEDICAL ISSUE.
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