Hundreds of Prop. 36 Grads Rally in Sacramento to Celebrate Program's Success!

MEDIA ADVISORY: April 17, 2007 Contact: Margaret Dooley (858) 336-3685 Hundreds of Prop. 36 Grads Rally at Capitol to Celebrate Program’s Success Treatment-Not-Incarceration Program Has Graduated Over 70,000 Californians and Saved Taxpayers Over $1.5 Billion in Six Years SACRAMENTO, April 17 – On Wednesday (April 18), hundreds of graduates and supporters of California’s six-year-old, treatment-instead-of-incarceration program, will gather on the West Steps of the Capitol Building in Sacramento for the second annual “Prop. 36 Works!” rally to celebrate the program’s success and advocate for greater access to treatment for all Californians suffering from addiction. ********************************************************************* WHAT: “Prop. 36 Works!” Rally, 700+ to Attend WHO: Prop. 36 graduates (w/ success stories), treatment providers, faith leaders WHERE: West Steps, Capitol Building in Sacramento, CA WHEN: Wednesday, April 18, at 10:30am-12pm rally; 2pm march ********************************************************************* The rally comes just days after researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles released their latest analysis of Prop. 36, which finds that the program needs at least $228.6 million to provide adequate services, improve treatment outcomes and increase taxpayer savings. UCLA’s figure is $80 million higher than the state spent on Prop. 36 in 2005-06, and $109 million higher than the governor has proposed spending in 2007-08. According to UCLA, every Prop. 36 graduate saves $4 for every $1 invested. The Legislative Analyst’s Office has estimated that the program generated net savings of $205 million in 2002-03 and $297 million in 2004-05. Conservatively estimating savings of $200 million per year, total program savings in six years surpass $1.2 billion. Nearly six years into Prop. 36, the number of people incarcerated for drug possession has fallen by 32% (5,000 people). By diverting so many into treatment, Prop. 36 rendered unnecessary the construction of a new men’s prison (saving an addition $500m) and also resulted in the shuttering of a women’s prison, bringing total savings to $1.7 billion. The UCLA report: http://www.adp.ca.gov/pdf/SACPAEvaluationReport.pdf For more on the rally, visit www.prop36.org # # # http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/04/13/state/n184353D91.DTL UCLA study: More money needed for drug treatment program By DON THOMPSON, Associated Press Writer Friday, April 13, 2007 (04-13) 18:43 PDT SACRAMENTO, (AP) -- California should devote more money to drug treatment if it wants to see a voter-approved diversion program improve, according to a fourth and final UCLA review of the 6-year-old initiative that was released Friday. Fewer than a third of drug offenders complete treatment programs required by Proposition 36, the study found. The measure, approved in 2000, requires treatment instead of jail for nonviolent first- and second-time drug offenders. The 32 percent completion rate in the third year of the program was a decline from the more than 34 percent who completed treatment in the first two years, the researchers found. Renee Zito, who was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in February to head the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, said the state-sponsored study supports the governor's view that changes to the program are needed. Schwarzenegger last year signed a Senate bill that permits jail stints of up to five days to force offenders to continue treatment, or if they test positive for drug use. A judge blocked the law after the Drug Policy Alliance sued, saying the jail terms violated voters' intent when they passed the measure with a 61 percent majority. "The latest report shows that changes are necessary to improve the rate — the rehabilitation rate," Zito said in a telephone interview. Alliance spokeswoman Margaret Dooley countered that the UCLA study shows the state should be spending $228 million on drug treatment programs, "which means the governor's budget is $109 million short." An estimated $149 million was spent last year on Proposition 36 programs. The University of California at Los Angeles study suggests drug rehabilitation programs that would cost an additional $79 million. But the governor's budget includes just $120 million for next year. More money should go to intensive treatment and supervision programs, including residential programs and programs providing at least 90 days of treatment, the report suggests. In addition, the report advocates allowing the use of methadone, a narcotics replacement drug, which some professionals oppose. "The governor will look at all options," Zito said. However, she said many of the report's recommendations do not require significantly more money. The money is well-spent if offenders complete the program, the report found. The researchers estimated the state saves $4 for every $1 it spends on treatment if the offenders stay off drugs, get jobs and stop committing crimes.