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 …
Judge spearheads new project to help veterans from inside the courtroom
Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans
Holton said on an average daily basis, there are 200 veterans in jail or on home incarceration in Jefferson County. The veterans treatment court aims to help returning veterans struggling with conditions such as post traumatic stress disorder or drug …
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Combination of PTSD, Substance Abuse Can be Deadly for Veterans
Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans
Combination of PTSD and Substance Abuse Can be Deadly for Veterans New research from the University of Michigan suggests that veterans battling post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and substance abuse disorders face a greater risk of death. The study, which …
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Military Not Doing Enough to Curb Alcohol, Drug Abuse, IOM Concludes
Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans
For years now, the NewsHour has been reporting on the growing problems of substance abuse, suicide and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. And while today's report does not address the Pentagon's overall response to …
Read more on PBS NewsHour (blog)