Treatment drug courts provide a successful alternative to incarceration for defendants who constantly cycle between addiction leading to crime, incarceration, release, relapse, and recidivism. This month's cover story in the March-April 2006 issue of SAMHSA News highlights treatment drug courts -- often referred to simply as drug courts -- funded since the late 1990s by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Close supervision, drug testing, and the use of sanctions and incentives help ensure that offenders stick with their treatment plans while public safety needs are met. The article also describes family drug courts, which target parents whose substance abuse puts them at risk of losing custody of their children.

In addition, the March-April issue includes descriptions of a new training initiative and accompanying manual for assisting case managers and other professionals in obtaining disability benefits through the Social Security Administration for people who are homeless and have mental illnesses. The manual, Stepping Stones to Recovery: a Case Manager's Manual for Assisting Adults Are Homeless with Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income Applications, is available on SAMHSA's web site.

The issue also describes the launch of a hepatitis vaccination pilot project and the agency's recent activities to prevent underage drinking.

The March/April 2006 issue is available online. SAMHSA News is published bimonthly in both hard copy and electronic format. To receive a free subscription by mail, telephone 1 (888) 577-8977 (toll-free) or (240) 221-4001 in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.