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

 

Getting federal help for Afghan war veterans has been an uphill slog

Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans

As Star writer David Bruser chronicled in his award-winning 2009 series The War at Home, the psychic scars can lead to depression, anxiety, alcoholism, drug abuse, family violence, run-ins with the law, even suicide. So it's good news that Prime …
Read more on Toronto Star

 

Carson veteran found stabbed to death had kicked drugs, cleaned up his life

Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans

He spent years as a part-time longshoreman but, when he lost that job, his drug addiction took over. He went to live on the streets … In an article about how the program was working to help homeless veterans, Rolen was quoted: "Man, I thought I was …
Read more on Long Beach Press-Telegram

 

Veterans need assistance with mental health, homeless issues

Filed under: drug abuse help for veterans

He understands firsthand the importance of dealing with mental health issues — including substance abuse — after time in the military. Lloyd was diagnosed with a schizo-affective disorder while serving in the Navy in 1979. He received some help from …
Read more on Muncie Star Press