Alcoholdrugs
reactions mixed
By Mary Kay Roth
The possibility of combining the state alcoholism and drug
services has caused a variety of reactions.
The mixed responses were a result of Gov. J.J. Exon's bill
proposing to merge the Nebraska Commission on Drugs and the
Department of Institution's (UP1) alcoholism division.
The resulting united department would take away the drug
corrmission's review powers of grants and make it advisory, as is
the current alcoholism division, The new advisory commission
would be made up of 20 appointed members-10 from each area.
Bill Atterberry, acting director of the alcoholism division, said
the bill would not bring many changes to his division because they
already serve in an advisory capacity.
Remain separate
Although .some degree of cooperation would be necessary,
Atterberry said, the departments basically would remain separate.
"As a public agency, our mission is to accept any legislation
passed-and go with it," he said.
Atterberry pointed out that many states already have merged
their alcoholism and drug divisions, "with no significant
problems."
There appears to be federal pressure for closer relationships
between alcoholism, drug abuse and mental health, he stated,
because of the many dual addictions he said. For example, many
alcoholics also suffer drug and mental health problems.
Jeff Kushner, executive director of the Nebraska Commission
on Drugs, agreed that combining the drug abuse and alcoholism
divisions would be a positive move.
But he objected to the methods of the merger outlined in the
proposal.
Take away power
Kushner said the bill would take away the drug commission's
executive powers and make it an advisory group under the DPI.
This move could threaten citizen participation that the drug
commission now depends on, he added.
"Now we're getting thousands of dollars worth of expertise
without paying for it," Kushner said. He was referring to the
20-member citizen committee and three other groups made up of
80 volunteers.
If the drug commission becomes advisory, Kushner said, "The
citizens would only be advising the advisory." This lack of
substantial power will probably cause citizens to lose interest and
drop out, he explained.
The bill would not economize, he speculated, it would only cost
more money to make up for the lost volunteer manpower.
Same objections
Bob Adams, executive director of the Lincoln Council on
Alcoholism and Drugs (LCAD) listed some of the same objections.
He said the bill presented a danger of losing the present "heavy
citizen involvement". This loss would cause more expenses and less
efficiency, Adams added.
He also said the bill as written was never discussed with either
the alcoholism or drug agency personnel.
Adams, however, stressed that the idea of combining the
alcoholism and drug divisions was possible, since his agency
combines them at the local level.
"We're the only agency in the state that has successfully
accomplished the combination," he said.
He recommended the present bill be researched further to find a
satisfactory solution.
Counter objections
William Hoppner, a member of Exon's legal staff who worked
with the bill, countered some of the objections.
Although he agreed the drug commission would become an
advisory staff, he said citizens would not lose their present powers.
He pointed to several other divisions under the DPI, which had
advisory decision-making committees-the welfare, alcoholism and
highway divisions. . - .
"We listen to these advisory committees, and go along with their
decisioas many times," Hoppner stated.
He also said that although the Exon administration had not
talked over the exact wording of the bill with the alcoholism and
drug departments, the concept has been discussed. .
"It just seemed as if combining both divisions would result in
economies and efficiencies for all concerned," Hoppner explained.
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daily nebreskan
page 9
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