OLYMPIA -- In only two years of additional funding for addiction treatment, the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and its community-based treatment providers have saved taxpayers thousands of dollars in medical and long-term care costs, while providing treatment to 25 percent more Medicaid patients.

Disabled adults receiving treatment through Medicaid registered medical savings of $289 per patient a month, exceeding original estimates. Washington state also has one of the highest treatment completion rates in the country - an indication of the quality of care patients receive.

"September is Recovery Month, and Washington's chemical dependency treatment professionals deserve to be recognized for meeting the challenge of providing quality care to more patients within a relatively short time," said Doug Allen, director of the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA). "It shows how committed they are to helping more patients and their families recover from the disease of addiction and have a healthier future."

The Legislature approved the additional treatment funding in 2005, responding to the fact that Medicaid patients at the time who needed treatment often had to wait months for treatment openings, and sometimes gave up.

The new funding, administered by DASA to community-based treatment agencies, has allowed more people to get the treatment they need with less waiting. The new funding also helped narrow the gap between the number of people needing treatment and the resources that were available.

During September many organizations around the state are holding events to inform community members that addiction is a brain disease, and that treatment works.

Governor Chris Gregoire has proclaimed September as Alcohol and Other Drug Addiction Recovery Month in Washington. This year's theme is Join the Voices for Recovery – Saving Lives, Saving Dollars.

Washington residents can get free, confidential information about the signs of addiction, referrals to treatment agencies, and how to pay for treatment by calling the Alcohol and Drug 24-Hour Helpline at 1-800-562-1240, in Seattle at 206-722-3700, or visiting them online: www.adhl.org.

An online brochure about how to help someone get treatment is available on DASA's website: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/hrsa/dasa/HHHBrochure.pdf.

Recovery Month:

For a list of events in Washington, go to www.recoverymonth.gov and click on "events."