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 …
Are We Too Shallow About Drugs to Truly Help Vets With PTSD?
Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans
How much do we really understand about the link between depression, drug use, imprisonment, and suicide? As long ago as 2009 there was published evidence that veterans are disproportionately represented in prison populations, that substance abuse is …
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Obama Extends Help for Veterans With Mental Health Problems
Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans
And because combat trauma, substance abuse and homelessness are so often linked, the White House also ordered a review of every veteran household whose home was foreclosed since 2006. Those wrongly foreclosed will be compensated equal to a …
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Veterans get helping hand in Cleveland Municipal Court
Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans
"Alcoholism and drug addiction represent what they turn to in trying to cope with that experience." Uzell said time will tell if the docket has a lasting impact, "but anything we can do to help the veterans is a positive step." Ray Saikus, president of …
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