King County to address substance abuse as an illness

April 24, 2013 Vol: 20 No: 17

by: Aaron Burkhalter , Staff Reporter

King Countys Mental Health, Chemical Abuseand Dependency Services Division is changing how treatment providers view those with chemical addictions. Before, a relapse into drug use was a failure in the eyes of King Countys treatment services. Now, its just another step in the process.

Assistant Division Director Jean Robertson said recovery operates on a spectrum. Thats why the county, and the many organizations contracted to provide treatment, will now treat chemical dependency the same as mental health as a lifelong chronic illness that requires ongoing treatment.

This shift will change how the county talks about clients and trains providers. The agency is also exploring the use of more peer counseling services, meaning people who have recovered from addiction are helping the clients as well. This model is already used for mental health treatment.

This will guide how the county thinks about and engages with clients but wont create new funding for chemical dependency.

Its a shift in philosophy, and its a shift in culture, Robertson said.

The countys health and human services funding is a fraction of what it was even five years ago. In 2006, the county had $26.5 million in general fund dollars set aside for health and human services. This year, its less than $1 million.

The department also receives funding from the state, which has lost $10 billion for human services since the 2008 recession.

The new shift in philosophy regarding chemical dependency has the potential to increase demand for services, Robertson said. If addiction recovery is a lifelong journey, the county will need to provide services to all these clients periodically throughout their life.

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King County to address substance abuse as an illness