Poorly coordinated

By Corey Taule . ctaule@postregister.com

A legislative audit released last month by the Office of Performance Evaluations said Idaho does a poor job providing drug treatment for prisoners, juveniles and people with low incomes. A big problem, the audit concluded, is that no statewide plan or coordination efforts exist. The report can be found at www .legislature.idaho.gov/ope/index.htm.

"Lacking a mechanism for statewide coordination, state agencies and drug courts have primarily operated without an agreed upon statewide approach to providing services to address substance abuse. Although policymakers have encouraged cooperation through legislation, the Department of Correction, the Department of Juvenile Corrections, and the Judicial Branch have operated separately from the Department of Health and Welfare in a number of ways. In addition, levels of coordination vary among Health and Welfare programs."