Drug Bill Hearing Tuesday

StSING - A public hearpTnll be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Ann Arbor on proposed legïslation, sponsored by Sen. William Faust, DWestland, which would créate a State Drug Addiction Service Agency empowered to prescribe narcotic drugs and treatment to drug addicts. The hearing will be conducted at the U-M's Rackham Auditorium by the S e n a t e Committee on Health, Social Services and Retirement and Committee Chairman Sen. Alvin J. DeGrow, R-Pigeon. "At this hearing, we hope to obtain testimony from as many different sources as possible related to this bill and the problems of drug use," said Faust. "We would especially like comment from medical personnel and both staff members and participants of existijug abuse programs." sst's proposal would establish a Drug Addiction Service Agency within the Department of Public Health under a nine-man commission appointed by the governor. The agency would establish drug abuse service centers in those areas where there is a high cencentration of drug user s. Drug addicts would make application f o r prescription treatment at the centers after a f ree medical examination, used to determine the extent of addiction, provided by physicians employed or appointed by the agency. According to Faust, a similar drug abuse program in England has helped stem the rising rates of heroin addiction in that country. "The optimum goal of this intended legislation," he said, "is to provide the state with an organization, free of bureaucratie wrangling, that will implement comprehensive medical therapeutic programs o prepare each patiënt for his . n to the community as a Hijctive individual." The senator's proposal also provides for the agency creaI tion of a community concept for caring and treating drugI dependent persons. "This concept would provide induction centers in ] ly concentrated drug districts where addicts could voluntarily commit themselves for treatment and rehabilitation. ín addition to providing preI scribed narcotic drug treatment, the therapeutic com[munity rehabilitation process ;would include : -Treatment of any other disease or defect; - Development of social attitudes which reflect acceptable behavioral patterns of the community; -Proper diet and health habits ; - Development of work habits for future meaningful employment; - Development of a mental image acceptable to the person and the community; - Education against the use of harmful and dangerous drugs.