Drug Detox And Rehab Could Help Kentucky Welfare Recipients Become Self Sufficient

At a time when drug abuse and addiction havehigher criminal justice and medical costs.
reached record levels across America, andTaxpayers would wind up paying more, in the long
government agencies from the White Houseterm, than the cost of drug detox and rehab, and
down are involved in serious efforts to providethe state and society would lose the opportunity
more treatment facilities, the State of Kentuckyto return its citizens to productivity.
is considering a bill that cuts off all publicIt's been proven many times that, with the right
assistance to anyone testing positive for drugs -encouragement, motivation and support, almost
including access to publicly funded a drug detoxany drug addict or drug abuser will agree to enter
and treatment programs.drug detox and rehab. Thousands of dependencies
The new bill would mandate random drug testingand addictions are treated successfully every day
of all adults who apply for, or who are alreadywith medical drug detox to help remove
receiving, public aid such as welfare, food stampsimmediate cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
or help from Kentucky's publicly funded medicalWhen followed by comprehensive drug rehab,
programs. If welfare applicants or recipientsformer addicts return to responsible, drug-free
refuse to be tested or test positive, further publicand productive lives, not drug-abusing welfare
assistance would be refused.addicts.
The proposed bill that would cut off access forIt's understandable for taxpayers to recoil from
these people to public assisted detox and rehabfooting the bill for welfare recipients who abuse
programs is perplexing when one considers thattheir status through drug abuse. But a different
Kentucky has among the highest prescription drugapproach could help satisfy reluctant taxpayers
abuse statistics in the country: One study foundand also get drug abusers into treatment and
20% of the population using prescription drugsback into the productive mainstream of Kentucky
illicitly - that's one person in every five gettinglife.
prescription drugs from an illicit source. PrescriptionWhy not offer those on public assistance who
drug addiction, dependency and abuse accountsflunk the drug test at least one opportunity to
for 20% of Kentucky's admissions into drugaccept an alternative, a drug detox and rehab
detox, drug rehab and other treatment modalities.program, rather than barring them at the outset
Indeed, abuse of the narcotic prescription painkillerfrom help with their drug problem.
OxyContin has been so prevalent in KentuckyRefusing to enter drug detox and rehab, or failure
that the drug is known by the dubious nicknameof any subsequent drug tests after completing
"hillbilly heroin." Kentucky has literally thousands ofdrug detox and rehab for as long as they're on
OxyContin addicts, many in jail or awaiting detoxwelfare, would go a long way in reducing the
and rehab, and hundreds of deaths have beenwelfare rolls and boosting the work force with
attributed to the drug. But prevailing opinion inrehabilitated citizens.
Kentucky is apparently a reluctance to spendA few days in a good medical drug detox
taxpayer money on welfare if the recipient isprogram followed by a thorough rehab could help
abusing drugs.turn the whole situation around in Kentucky, and
However, by refusing treatment on the strengthopen the door to increased productivity and
of a drug test, the new bill would contribute tomoney saved for all concerned.
increased addiction, more drug-related crime and