By James Mayse
Messenger-Inquirer
OWENSBORO, Ky. — In 2011, state legislators voted to change the way Kentucky deals with non-violent drug offenders when the General Assembly passed House Bill 463.
The goal of the bill was to reduce the number of people incarcerated in state prisons — and stop the seemingly endless cycle of drug offenders committing new crimes once released from prison — by increasing access to substance abuse treatment.
On Tuesday, local and state officials who work in substance abuse treatment will hold a forum to educate the public on what treatment options are available for people charged with drug offenses.
The forum will be at 6 p.m. at SS. Joseph and Paul Parish Hall, at Fourth and Clay Streets. The forum will include information from a variety of experts on substance abuse treatment for people charged with substance-abuse related crimes.
The panel will include Kevin Pangburn, director of the Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Programs for the state Department of Corrections, Daviess Circuit Judge Jay Wethington, who oversees adult drug court, RonSonlyn Clark of River Valley Behavioral Health, Sarah Adkins of Owensboro Regional Recovery and people who are currently in recovery.
The forum is sponsored by Daviess County Treatment Providers.
“Every year, we do a forum to bring attention to an issue related to substance abuse,” Adkins said. “This year, (the focus) is services available within the criminal justice system.”
House Bill 463 was crafted to refer more people charged with drug offenses to treatment programs. Savings from reduced incarceration is to be funneled into creating more beds in treatment facilities.
Although there has been some criticism of House Bill 463, Adkins said she has seen people be successful in recovery after they were referred to ORR instead of being incarcerated.
“I can definitely say, anecdotally, we have seen a lot of success,” Adkins said. “We have seen scientific evidence, with reports coming out about the ‘Recovery Kentucky’ program. I believe in it, I believe it works and I believe we have evidence to show it works.”
Tuesday’s forum is for anyone who wants to learn about what substance abuse treatment programs are available within the Department of Corrections and in the community, Adkins said. The program will provide information even to people who do not have loved ones in the criminal justice system, Adkins said.
“It’s a community forum,” Adkins said. “Everyone is invited — everyone is invited and anyone can come. People looking for help can come.”