45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002
REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT TO COOPERATE IN A STUDY OF ACCESS TO FAITH-BASED AND TWELVE STEP SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ALCOHOL PROGRAMS BY PRISON POPULATIONS.
WHEREAS, faith-based and twelve step substance abuse and alcohol treatment programs, such as alcoholics anonymous, are nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial and apolitical programs that are widely available for people with alcohol or drug problems with no fees or charges; and
WHEREAS, it is an important element for the success of these programs that people have access to them on a frequent and regular basis; and
WHEREAS, it is also important that the volunteers and members of the programs are themselves people who have successfully dealt with drinking or drug problems; and
WHEREAS, for security and various administrative reasons, these programs are available to our prison populations only on a limited basis, thereby reducing the potential for the success of the programs with inmates; and
WHEREAS, many people are incarcerated as a result of drug and alcohol problems and are in need of regular exposure to faith-based and twelve step programs such as these;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health and the corrections department be requested to cooperate in a study of the availability of and access to faith-based and twelve step substance abuse and alcohol treatment programs for state prison populations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the departments identify ways to increase the availability of these programs for inmate populations throughout the state; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the departments report on their progress to the legislative health and human services committee by its October 2002 meeting; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be sent to the department of health, the corrections department and the interim legislative health and human services committee.