Addictions

Philanthropy under the "Addiction" allocation is guided by research-based principles to effectively treat and alleviate substance abuse problems. For example, heroin addiction is not the only problem in Maryland, although it may be the most dramatic problem in Baltimore. Alcohol kills many more people than heroin in Maryland. Among adolescents, the nonmedical use of prescription drugs is the number one killer. The Foundation's grant awards will be proportional to the problem. Addiction is a health problem. Extensive research indicates that drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disease that needs an array of services to meet the needs of a heterogeneous population who respond to different models and approaches. Chronic, relapsing illnesses respond to prevention and treatment, to medication models (lifetime maintenance) and abstinence models. Those who suffer from chronic diseases often relapse. Reducing harm to self and others may be as important as total abstinence. Geographically, the drug problem has many faces and changes from inner city to suburbia to rural areas. The Foundation does not focus its grant awards on only one area or one method or one model because the drug problem is multifaceted and demands several approaches. Although research shows that successful treatment programs combine medication such as Buprenorphine and behavioral counseling, the Foundation is open to other models and methods and takes a Thomas Paine "common sense" approach that looks at any model that works. More importantly, the longer an addict stays in some level of treatment, the more likely he or she will stay in recovery. The Foundation prefers to fund only those drug treatment services that can prove they keep addicts in treatment for the longest lengths of stay and for the highest completion rates. Follow-up after-care services are also crucial. Addicts stay in recovery longer and relapse less frequently when they are given the basic necessities and fundamental decencies of life: housing, jobs, and social supports, including structured activities during free time. It is also important for the Foundation to focus on the children of those who are addicted or incarcerated. Geographical areas: Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Hawaii and selected areas of Israel.

Goal 1-Retention in Treatment: To improve the quality and length of community-based, comprehensive, drug treatment programs and to increase the number of people who enter and stay in treatment long-term. The Foundation funds those agencies that show high completion rates and long stays. It will fund expanded services, more staff, and better training for counselors and front-line providers in the drug treatment system. It will support those agencies that implement a continuing-care model, not an emergency-care model and those programs that have ancillary support services (or referrals) such as job training, GED completion, supportive housing, childcare, case management, transportation to treatment centers, and legal assistance.

Goal 2-Technical Assistance: To fund mobile technical assistance experts who help the numerous, small grassroots organizations in Maryland that provide drug treatment. It will help effective, small organizations with financing, operational management, best-practice training, case management, and legal issues.

Goal 3-Starting Treatment Early (Youth): To improve access for teenagers to drug treatment programs after-school and during weekends, holidays, and summers. The Foundation will fund substance abuse programs (with parental involvement) for students in middle school and high school and only those programs that combine drug prevention with mental health screening (anxiety and depression) because they are inextricably intertwined. For this population, the Foundation will support programs that treat binge drinking, inhalant use, smoking, drunk driving, nonmedical use of prescription drugs.

The Foundation focuses on increasing the availability of quality drug treatment programs (including access to education, job training, and housing), increasing the number of drug abusers and addicts who enter or re-enter treatment, increasing the number of addicts who stay in treatment and recovery, and providing technical assistance for the smaller service-delivery programs.