| Marking National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
Imagine a nation in which a deadly but treatable disease is taking its toll on more than 5 percent of the population. One that is wreaking havoc with the lives of millions of men, women, and children, but only 20 percent of the people who need treatment are receiving it. Would we help?These are the statistics that prevail in the U.S. today. The disease is alcohol and drug addiction.Alcohol and drug abuse disrupts families, threatens the safety of our neighborhoods and ruins the lives of countless men, women and youths. During September, National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, we recognize the damaging effects of substance abuse and renew our support for individuals battling to overcome addiction.The theme for the 2006 Recovery Month campaign is "Join the Voices for Recovery: Build a Stronger, Healthier Community." It is always our hope that the campaign will urge all Americans to help prevent alcohol and drug abuse and to promote treatment and recovery options.Recovery Month is a national public education campaign developed by the U.S.
Tahoe Launches Adult Felony Drug Court
A new program is being launched in South Lake Tahoe to help some of the highest risk individuals take steps to straighten out their lives. Adult Felony Drug Court is targeted for people, especially pregnant women and parenting adults, who are struggling with substance abuse and who have committed non-violent felony crimes. The program is a collaborative effort between numerous agencies in El Dorado County, including the Public Health Department, Superior Court, District Attorney's Office, Public Defender, Sierra Recovery Center, and the Probation Department, and is funded by a grant from the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. Participants of the Adult Felony Drug Court receive outpatient and residential substance abuse treatment if indicated and submit to frequent drug testing.
Nearly half of Oklahoma's inmates are drug or alcohol offenders
•Allows judges and prosecutors to sentence criminals to mandatory treatment programs like inpatient drug clinics. The state pays for the treatment. •If offenders fail to improve a negative behavior like drug and alcohol abuse or a violent temperament, they can be sent back for more treatment or on to prison. •It works like probation, but with more one-on-one contact between criminals and counselors and more in-depth therapy to change criminal tendencies. .
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