Substance abuse is a major issue in
Siskiyou County. According to the 2004 Siskiyou County Community Indicators Alcohol and
Drug Abuse, in Siskiyou County during the three years from 1999 -2001 there were an
average of 13.3 arrests per thousand adults per year for D.U.I. (Driving Under the
Influence.) The statewide average was 8.4 per thousand. During the same period of time
there was an average of 13.2 adults per thousand arrested for non-D.U.I. alcohol
violations in the county compared to 5.9 adults per thousand statewide. For the same period, there were 15.9 per thousand
juvenile (age 10-17) alcohol or other drug related arrests in Siskiyou County compared to
a 9.1 per thousand statewide average.
There is no detoxification facility or in-patient substance abuse
treatment located within the county. There are some intensive outpatient programs, (Summit
and Next Step Perinatal,) provided by Siskiyou County Behavioral Health Services that
receive minimal block funding from the state. There are also county-based structured peer
groups (Recovery 101,) counseling services and some community-based programs such as
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Al-Anon for family and friends.
(Groups may have a local phone number in your phone directory and many meetings are
published in the local paper. Family Resource Centers will also help to refer people to
available groups and services.)
Siskiyou County recently funded the expansion of a Yreka Community Resource
Center pilot project to offer a family-based substance abuse relapse prevention program in
other areas of the county. The program will now be offered in Happy Camp, McCloud and Scott
Valley. The course is curriculum-based and runs several weeks. Family members are included
and smaller children will be provided with child care and coaching on strengthening
communication skills to help prevent future substance abuse. Facilitation will be provided
by professionals in the community and will also allow students of the College of the
Siskiyous Alcohol and Drug studies program to gain field experience in helping skills.
In addition, California Endowment has generously funded the Community
Services Council (CSC) with a large grant to conduct an 18 month community planning
process to establish “a multi-disciplinary substance abuse prevention and
intervention continuum of care for residents of Siskiyou County.” A broad coalition
will meet regularly with a paid coordinator to oversee the planning process. The group
will look at what is available here; what has been done in other rural counties; unmet
health needs, service gaps and barriers to access. Interviews will be conducted among the
recovering community, health professionals, service providers and county department
directors. The group will look at eligibility, costs, gaps, policies and regulations. It
will look for opportunities for collaboration, linkages and funding.
The recommendations of the planning coalition will then be formed
into an action plan with strategies such as: program improvement; improved collaboration;
and advocacy for changes in funding, policies and systems. |
