Fourteen states and one tribal community are the recipients of a total of $100 million in Access to Recovery grants for people seeking treatment for drug and alcohol problems.
Access to Recovery is a three-year federal treatment initiative proposed by President George W. Bush in his 2003 State of the Union address. The program is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is designed to help people with substance abuse and dependence to find treatment in their communities.
Under the program, people who are seeking drug and alcohol treatment and support services will be assessed, presented with a voucher to pay for a range of treatment services, and referred to a variety of providers who offer those services.
In August, three-year grants were awarded to California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the California Rural Indian Health Board.
In a press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Director of National Drug Control Policy John Walters said, “Treatment works. But addiction is not a one-size-fits-all disease. This program represents the next step in our ability to treat this disease, opening a door to a full range of treatment providers and offering treatment access to thousands of Americans who would otherwise remain trapped in the maze of addiction.”
Some of the grant-winning states and community treatment initiatives within those states include the following:
•
California received $22.8 million, which will be used to provide substance abuse counseling for youth aged 12 to 20 in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco.
•
Florida received $20.4 million to focus on substance abuse problems in high-risk populations, such as those involved in the criminal justice system.
•
Illinois received $22.8 million to provide clinical treatment and recovery support services for people on probation in a number of Illinois counties, including Cook County.
•
Washington received $22.8 million to provide drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services to low-income individuals in crisis who are involved with Child Protective Services, shelters, and supported housing, for instance.
More information about the Access to Recovery initiative and grant winners is posted online at<www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov>.▪
