The Iowa Department of public health is part of a project that seeks to improve the treatment of drug abusers. Janet Zwick of the Department’s Division of Behavioral Health says the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is providing funding for the effort.
She says they’re one of four states that were picked to use demonstrated methods to improve the access and success of substance abuse treatment programs. Zwick says the national figures show that fewer than a quarter of substance abusers receive treatment, and for those who do get in, half leave the program before receiving the full benefits of treatment.
She says there are waiting lists for people who want to get into treatment and they need to ensure that they’re using the “best quality practices” so that the people who do get in, stay in treatment. Zwick says this project will last at least one year and it could be extended. The foundation is providing a $15,000 grant for the project.
