Oppose SB 157/HB 53                                              2005 Legislative Bill List Senate Bill 157 to be heard 6/7 would Kill Treatment--ASAP............We need your  voice!!!!!!!!  Odinet’s 2001 Law is WORKING! see the chart http://www.hopenetworks.org/la_leg_2004/alcoho1.gif

JUNE 7--Hearing State Capital---Take Action NOW --Attend ,  E-mail, or Call                              Download a Flyer:  Save Treatment People in Louisiana with alcohol problems t heir Family, and Communities all need support! SB 157 is an ANTI-Recovery, ANT-PUBLIC SAFETY BILL---Senator Chaissons SB 157 has passed the Senate, now we need help to kill this bill in the House Criminal Justice Committee. How you can help: Help us Save ALCOHOL TREATMENT for DWI Offenders, it is working for those who are being sentenced under this law the entire purpose of DWI laws are to reduce the number of people driving while intoxicated, and that is what our current law mandating Treatment for repeat offenders is doing-   1.  Please plan on attending THE HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE  hearing Tuesday sign a card in opposition--- June 7, 2005  9:30 am Room 6  Join us by meeting in the Cafeteria with others at 8:30 am--  State Capital Basement  ----Questions on where to meet up Info@HopeNetworks.org Call and E-Mail House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice-- PLEASE ASK THEM TO:  Vote against SB 157 or HB 53   (both bills do the same thing--Kill the treatment provision that is working passed in 2001 by Rep. Odinet) (also see more info to gain support for saving treatment for DWI below) CONTACT for COMMITTEE MEMBERS below...please act  ASAP--- Name Position e-mail Martiny, Daniel R. Chairman larep079@legis.state.la.us Heaton, Alex Vice Chair webreps@legis.state.la.us Baldone, Damon J. Member larep053@legis.state.la.us Bruce, Beverly G. Member larep007@legis.state.la.us Burrell, Roy Member larep002@legis.state.la.us Cazayoux, Jr., Donald J. Member larep18@legis.state.la.us Cravins, Donald R., "Don", Jr. Member larep040@legis.state.la.us DeWitt, Charlie Member larep025@legis.state.la.us LaFleur, Eric Member larep038@legis.state.la.us Morrell, Arthur A. Member larep097@legis.state.la.us Romero, Errol "Romo" Member larep048@legis.state.la.us Smith, Jane H. Member larep008@legis.state.la.us Triche, Jr., Warren J. Member larep008@legis.state.la.us White, Mack "Bodi" Member larep064@legis.state.la.us Wooton, Ernest D. Member larep105@legis.state.la.us Also...You can Watch the House Criminal Justice Committee hearing online starting at 9:30 am: http://house.legis.state.la.us/H-Online/livevideo.htm Tremendous NEED In Louisiana--More on Louisiana and DWI Note----without a  "mandate" in the law--giving priority to 3rd and 4th offenders-- the waiting list is 1000-1200 persons for impatient treatment. Only 8% of Louisiana adult residents finding recovery support (Treatment) even less for youth, where 4.5% of Juveniles who need treatment for alcohol and other drugs find available services. A mere 32 medical detox beds are available for 4.4 million residents,  Clean up costs for the lack of treatment and prevention costs Louisiana more than $8 Billion annually in direct and indirect costs according to CASA.  3rd & 4th DWI offenders mandated to Treatment since 2001 remain sober-if not they go directly to jail. -Louisiana saves $5 for every $1 we spend treating alcohol addiction -Dr. Loren Scott 2003 OAD/DHH Report

This is the first DWI Legislation to show a real reduction- by addressing something more than than jail, fees, fines, and alcohol detection gadgets--it actually goes to the heart of the matter, and uses the courts to help break denial--that practicing alcoholics live in by the their very definition"

Additional Info to Contact House Criminal Justice Committee-http://www.legis.state.la.us/

Tell them:

1.  You support treatment for real solutions to DWI problems- and want them to Oppose SB 157

  (80-90%) support Treatment for DWI offenders--not Incarceration according to a
public opinion survey done by CADA on treating DWI offenders2004.

2.  Communicate the facts supporting opposition of SB 157 progress of Odinet's law See Data proving the effectiveness http://www.hopenetworks.org/la_leg_2004/alcoho1.gif provided by the  Louisiana Office of Addictive Disorders.

Cost Alone---
PRISON COST $35,000 vs TREATMENT $3,500---Treatment saves money and lives Dr. Loren Scotts's report for the State of Louisiana shows we save $5 for every $1 we spend to treat substance abuse.

  4. Full House Killed this Bill Last Year--and Success continues
 Repeat Attempt to Kill Treatment Mandate-Progressive Effort to address the "real problem" this Anti-Recovery Bill actually

Tell you support ending impaired deaths for all people, and that means addressing the root of the problem---
Alcohol Abuse-

For more than 3 years now, the only legislation brought forward has been aimed at fining, jailing, or the purchase of gadgets.
At Present....Judges have the discretion on 1st and 2nd offense (to send people to treatment) but that often fails--no beds, and no  mandate (the law forcing the bed to be available)--which is why Odinet's law is so important-for us to save-it gives priority placement---SB 157 would remove that and kill the treatment component.

Despite good research, and common knowledge among the public that Alcoholism is a disease, and that treatment works to support ongoing recovery,  alcoholism is still treated as a crime in Louisiana.

MADD National, and all Federal Highway Safety Directives call for statewide standards for Intervention, Treatment, and Recovery--These ---Appear to have been Ignored over the years in Louisiana----and now we are paying for that denial of the core problem----Prison does not treat alcoholism!

NOTE:
Even with our extreme DWI Problems in Louisiana we have no standards at all for Alcohol Abuse-Alcohol Dependence Screening/Referrals for Treatment for those 1st and 2nd DWI Arrests/Convictions- How can we ever hope that those driving with alcohol problems will stop when they need help that they can't get in our current system?  More on call to DWI Reform

Alcohol Help should be as available as alcohol, and the stigma should be removed---encouraging those in need of help to get help, today little help is available, and the best hope for all people who are victims of our states alcohol crisis.

THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR MADD AND PUBLIC SAFETY - PUSHED TO KILL ODINET'S LAW --Rather than offering new legislation as we have discussed, or supporting effective modifications (Like first offense alcohol screenings, appropriate referrals for treatment and recovery support, etc.)

Today...TREATMENT IS WORKING--68% SENTENCED UNDER THIS LAW ARE NOT DRINKING AND DRIVING AND THAT IS REAL PROGRESS.