6/12/10: Governor Quinn Signs Law to Help Veterans With Addiction, Mental Health Disorders
6/12/10: Governor Quinn Signs Law To Help Veterans with Addiction, Mental Health Disorders – CHICAGO — June 12, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that creates the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act. The new law allows counties throughout Illinois to create special judicial courts for Veterans who may have mental health or substance abuse disorders. “Many of our brave servicemembers come home suffering from the effects of war, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, traumatic brain injuries, substance abuse and other service-related disabilities,” said Governor Quinn. “This law will help us take better care of our Veterans who need treatment, not jail.” House Bill 5214, sponsored by Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) and Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake), allows the chief judge of each judicial circuit in Illinois to create a Veteran and Servicemembers Court Program (VSCP) for military Veterans charged with nonviolent crimes. Veterans who receive approval for enrollment in the VSCP will receive mental health and substance abuse screenings, and must submit to treatment. Upon successful completion of the program, the original charge(s) may be dismissed. “This is groundbreaking legislation that allows qualifying veterans the opportunity to pay their debt to society while also receiving much-needed treatment for service-related disabilities,” said Dan Grant, Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “It is a proven and successful method of restoring mind, body and spirit to a veteran in need.” The VSCP models other …
Honoring Our Veterans in 2012
Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans
… to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America estimates. The RAND Corporation found in 2008 that “only 53 percent of the service members who need treatment for PTSD, TBI, and major depression actually end up seeking help.” … binge drinking than …
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Hurdles remain to helping veterans
Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans
Susan Angell, who oversees VA's homeless efforts, says having a safe and stable place to live improves veterans' ability to participate in treatment programs and other efforts intended to address the root causes of their problems such as substance …
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Helping homeless veterans in the Valley
Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans
That includes housing, counseling and substance-abuse treatment. Cory noted there's a high percentage of alcohol- and drug-related issues among the homeless veteran population, as well as the homeless population in general. As more troops return home …
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DPA Releases Report On Veterans And The War On Drugs As Nation …
Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans
Left untreated, these medical conditions often contribute to substance misuse and addiction, fatal overdose, homelessness and suicide, as well as violations of the law, particularly nonviolent drug offenses. For these reasons, veterans are increasingly …
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