Number of Illinois Residents Waiting in 2008 for Alcohol, Drug Abuse Treatment Jumps 17%, New U of I Report Says

(Springfield, IL) – The estimated number of Illinois residents waiting for alcohol and drug abuse assessment and treatment at state-financed facilities in 2008 rose 17 percent in, according to a report released at a press conference in Springfield on May 1.

The report by the Survey Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago surveyed 106 Illinois community treatment providers in December 2007 and revealed 7,541 people were waiting for some form of treatment, up from 6,467 in March 2007.

“Substance abuse treatment works best when an individual is ready,” said Sara Moscato Howe, right, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association. “Turning people away at the door is unacceptable and only leads to crises for the person and the community.”

Moscato Howe said the state must invest $41 million this year to provide care to the growing number of untreated Illinois residents, to decrease wait times, and to provide relief to community service providers burdened by escalating expenses.

State Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston), left, is backing Moscato Howe’s call for additional money. Schoenberg is sponsoring legislation, S.B. 2886, to boost funding by $41 million in this year’s budget.

“Illinois is losing the battle against drug and alcohol abuse by failing to care for those who need treatment,” said Schoenberg. “We must stop the growing number of people forced on to waiting lists. We must be able to provide services for those who need help by adequately funding substance abuse treatment and prevention.”

Across the state, northern Illinois has the most people, 2,168, waiting for care. The fewest, 830, is in southern Illinois. The report also estimated that 595 youth are waiting for treatment. Central Illinois has the most youth waiting for treatment with 182 on waiting lists.

On May 2, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced that the Illinois Department of Human Services and Prevention First, unveiled new public service announcements alerting parents and young people to the dangers of illegal and prescription drug abuse. How nice. Now show us the money.

The funding legislation’s fate is uncertain.

Sens. Hunter, Trotter Seek Reduction of Minorities in Illinois Prisons; Want Drug Laws Study, $10 Million for Treatment

(Springfield, IL) – Democratic State Senators unveiled legislation at a press conference in Springfield on Tuesday to tackle the unyielding escalation of minorities sentenced to Illinois prisons.

State Senators Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago), far left, and Donne Trotter (D-Chicago), left, called for the swift enactment of legislation to create a Racial Impact Study Commission.

The proposed commission would examine the impact of Illinois drug laws on minorities or those of lower economic status, according to Hunter.

“No legislature sets out to make a law that disproportionately imprisons a particular racial community, but I believe that Illinois’ criminal justice laws unintentionally yield that result,” said Hunter, the chief sponsor of Senate Bill 2476.

In 2005, African-Americans in Illinois were 9 times more likely to be incarcerated than whites, ranking Illinois 14th worst in the nation—well above the national average of 5.6 times more likely.

In addition to the Racial Impact Study Commission, Hunter and a bi-partisan group of legislators have pledged to secure $10 million, Senate Bill 1442, as a ‘down payment’ to bring to scale a comprehensive, statewide drug treatment plan.

Conceived by the Center for Health & Justice at TASC, the plan would ultimately require $125.7 million per year for community-based treatment of 25,000 non-violent, drug-involved offenders, annually saving taxpayers $223 million given the decrease in incarceration. Money in the bank.

The fate of both bills remains uncertain this year. The $10 million will be tough with no dough in the state till and long-term thinking just as scarce.