Iowa’s drug treatment programs are getting national attention from a national T-V network newsmagazine. A-B-C’s “Nightline” program has interviewed the Directors of the Corrections and Health Departments and Governor Vilsack on the state’s drug treatment policies. Corrections Department Director Kipp Kautzky says the show’s investigation was prompted by the case of a woman who was going to lose her children because she couldn’t get drug treatment.The show asks why the state doesn’t spend more to provide substance abuse services to residents before they’re sent to prison. Kautzky says the question is off base. He says it’s not really close to what’s going on. Kautzky says a substantial portion of the money invested in community corrections is spent on drug programs.He says it’s something state officials have discussed, as there is a waiting list for some drug treatment programs.Kautzky says the Corrections System is only one of the agencies competing for limited state funding. Kautzky says it’s not always an easy to determine how to attack the substance abuse problem. A crew from “Nightline” filmed interviews with Iowa officials last week. Kautzky says they don’t know yet when the show will air.
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