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Questions and Answers about CAB Q. What’s your service area? A. We serve people from across northeastern Massachusetts and greater Boston. Our clinics are located in Boston, Danvers, Lynn, Tewksbury, Woburn, Middleton County Jail, and Salem, Massachusetts. Q. How are you funded? A. Most of our funding comes from client fees and Medicaid, also state contracts for the provision of quality substance abuse services. A small portion derives from federal contracts. We also receive funds from the North Shore United Way, the City of Salem and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Private, foundation, and corporate donors augment our services and programs. Q. What kinds of services? A. Outpatient, inpatient detox, half-way houses, street outreach, in-prison, specialized women’s services, youth services, methadone clinic, buprenorphine outpatient, DUI, DWI, juvenile drug court, and residential treatment for women and their children. Q. Detox, half-way house, methadone treatment … what do these actually mean? A. For an outline of different types of treatment, visit the White House’s Office of Drug Policy’s website http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/treat/treatment.html Q. How do clients pay for their services? A. We accept most insurance plans and Medicaid. Ninety-two percent of our clients are publicly insured. Q. Is this really a valid use of public dollars? A. An average stay (five days) in our detox totals $1,000. If the same client accesses care through a hospital, that cost is approximately $3,488. National studies also show the cost and savings of not treating or treating addiction respectively: In 1998, 39% of fatal motor vehicle crashes involved alcohol. In 1999, most cities reported that about two-thirds of arrestees tested positive for at least one illegal drug, and one-sixth were under the influence of more than one drug. An Oregon Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program study showed that, for each dollar spent on substance abuse treatment, the state was saving $5.60 in terms of arrests, incarcerations, food stamp use, child welfare and medical costs. A California study put this treatment-benefit savings at $7. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that 20% of the total national health expenditure for hospital care is spent on alcohol-related illnesses Q. Do you only serve addicted people? A. We have two programs for families, significant others or anyone who is living with someone addicted to illegal drugs and alcohol. In our women’s and children’s home, we work with the entire family, and include work around parenting, life-skills and job preparation. Q. What is your clients’ most common drug of choice? A. Heroin, followed by alcohol. Oxycontin (prescription pain medication) is also on the rise, and resulting in a somewhat younger client-base. Q. I know you treat people with addictions, but what about the other end—intervening with youth before it’s too late? A. We have a range of outpatient youth programs, which are custom-designed for success in treating youth. We also operate one of four residential youth programs in the State. We also participate in health fairs, presentations and conferences around youth, wellness and substance abuse. Also, parents or others may order our no-cost, customized advice pamphlets on youth-specific topics.