Fla. Officials Oppose Drug-Reform Initiative November 14, 2001
News Summary
Florida officials and addiction-treatment professionals are voicing their opposition to a drug-reform initiative similar to California's Proposition 36, Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly reported Oct. 29.Sponsors of California's voter-approved Proposition 36 are working to bring the drug policy reform initiative to 2002 ballots in Florida, Ohio, Michigan and other states. Under the proposed Right to Treatment and Rehabilitation for Nonviolent Drug Offenses initiative, Floridians would be given the option of treatment rather than incarceration for a first or second drug offense.
"Although the bill is called a Right to Treatment, it should be titled the Right to Use Drugs while Avoiding Responsible Treatment. It's an absolute hoax. I see this as an imported product brought from the West Coast by the same team as Proposition 36, backed by big money. They have no understanding of what we've done for drug treatment in this state," said Jim McDonough, director of the Florida Office of Drug Control. "It's a disaster, but it won't happen. They've come to the wrong state."
The initiative is opposed by the governor's office, the Florida Office of Drug Control, and some law-enforcement groups, prosecutors, and addiction-treatment professionals.
Florida officials say the state's addiction treatment system is much different than California's. For instance, Florida already has 70 drug courts, reaching about 35 percent of eligible offenders. In California, drug courts reached only 5 percent of the eligible population. In addition, Florida increased treatment spending this past fiscal year by $50 million.
Proponents of Florida's addiction-treatment system are concerned that an initiative similar to Proposition 36 would destroy the state's successful drug-court program.
"We've supported the diversion of drug offenders for years through Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities (TASC) and the drug courts, but we don't think this initiative is the way to go," said John Daigle, executive director of the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association. "It would significantly diminish the capability of existing models, including drug courts, and eliminates the range of sanctions and incentives for people to participate and be successful in treatment."
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