Luzerne County Awarded Grant for Adult Drug Treatment Court
Initiative will move forward
(Hanover Township) - Luzerne County Commission Chairman Gregory A. Skrepenak announced today that the United States Department of Justice has awarded Luzerne County with $250,000 in Drug Court Discretionary Grant Funds to be used to defray the costs associated with the Luzerne County Adult Drug Treatment Court. The announcement was made before members of Luzerne County's law enforcement community at a meeting of the Luzerne County Crime Commission.
The Luzerne County Commissioners, Court System, and the Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Drug and Alcohol Program worked together to initiate the Adult Drug Treatment Court in response to increased drug trafficking and related crime in Luzerne County. Data collected from the Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Drug & Alcohol Program on 18-to-34 year-olds reflects a 313% increase in the use of heroin and other opiates in Luzerne County from 1997 to 2004. Additional data shows that treatment admissions indicated a total of 579 young adults treated for opiate abuse from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004, compared to 185 treated for the same opiate abuse in 1997/1998. In addition, local authorities estimate that 85% of the crimes committed in Luzerne County are drug related. In 2003, judicial system, correctional system and human services costs related to drug and alcohol issues totaled over 82 million dollars.
The funding provided by the U.S. Department of Justice will allow for the treatment of up to 38 clients in the Adult Drug Treatment Court, the addition of court staff, training, a management information system, increased drug and alcohol testing, and evaluation.
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