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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Lopez
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
02-01-08
HB
SHORT TITLE Bernalillo Substance Abuse Program for Women SM 38
ANALYST Padilla
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Memorial 38 (SM 38) resolves that Bernalillo County be encouraged to develop a
transitional housing and substance abuse treatment program for women with children that will
address their unique needs and create a positive living environment during the rehabilitation
process. It is further resolved in this Memorial that the Children, Youth & Families Department
(CYFD), the Human Services Department (HSD), and the Department of Health (DOH) be
requested to consider joining Bernalillo County in the identification of sources for funding for
and the development and ultimate implementation of such a program. Copies of this Memorial
shall be transmitted to the County manager of Bernalillo County and to the secretaries of CYFD,
HSD, and DOH.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
The significant issues relating to this Memorial include:
•
Providing the clients of substance abuse treatment programs with gender-specific
treatment has resulted in longer and more successful treatment.
•
The tendency of women to leave treatment earlier than men has been attributed to the
inability of treatment programs to meet their complex medical, social ad emotional needs.
•
Effective substance abuse treatment for women helps halt a downward spiral that, if left
unchecked, may result in increased criminal activity.
•
Such programs are fundamental to public safety, preventing crime and protecting
potential victims of crime.
•
Substance abuse treatment programs for women with children that address women’s
unique needs, including their relationships with their partners, families and children and
any history of physical and sexual abuse, are more effective than traditional programs and
have the additional benefit of assisting the children of those women.
•
There is no gender-specific, long-term, transitional housing program for women and their
children that serves the State of New Mexico.
pg_0002
Senate Memorial 38 – Page
2
•
The unique substance abuse treatment needs of women include child care services,
women-only treatment and prenatal care.
•
Limited access to child care services is one of the most frequently cited barriers to
treatment of women seeking treatment, and programs that allow women to bring their
children into residential treatment experience greater lengths of stay.
•
The children of addicted parents have the highest risk of abusing alcohol and drugs due to
both genetic and environmental factors.
•
A strong correlation has been documented between parental addiction and child abuse
and neglect.
•
The children of addicted parents are at higher risk for being abandoned at birth, being
placed in foster care, running away from home and becoming homeless.
•
Children of addicted parents experience physical and mental health problems at a greater
rate than children of non-addicted parents.
WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL
If this bill is not enacted then women recovering from substance abuse and their children will not
have services to meet their complex medical, social, and emotional needs via transitional housing
and rehabilitation services.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
How many potential women and their children could benefit from this program.
JRP/mt