Insight Matters
Summer, 2002

OPA Council Opposes State Issue 1

At their July 21 Council meeting, the Ohio Psychiatric Association considered a report from the Government Relations Committee on State Issue 1, The Ohio Drug Treatment Initiative, an amendment to the Ohio Constitution to be placed on the November 5 ballot. This Initiative is to amend Art. IV of the Ohio Constitution by adding a Section 24 to provide for treatment in lieu of incarceration for persons charged with or convicted of illegal possession or use of a controlled substance in certain limited circumstances.

After much discussion, Council agreed on the following position statement:

The Ohio Psychiatric Association strongly and enthusiastically supports the active treatment of substance use disorders including drugs and alcohol. We assert that such treatment must be available to all affected Ohioans, regardless of age. Current access and funding for treatment is inadequate and must be expanded. Treatment resources and enabling legislation must include substance use, alcoholism and chemical disorders of juveniles. The Ohio Psychiatric Association is opposed to Initiative 1 because it is too narrow and because it improperly places specific program and budget appropriations into our already cluttered Ohio Constitution. The Ohio Psychiatric Association believes issues of adequateness, funding and resources are best advanced in the Ohio General Assembly, not by a Constitutional amendment. OPA challenges the Governor and State Legislature to make appropriate resources (at outlined in Initiative 1) available to its citizens.

Back to Newsletter