Substance Abuse Prog Report
SAse
SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES CENTER
0 799 Main Street D 907 West Main Street
Dubuque,]A 52001-6825 Manches",,]A 52057
563-582-3784 563-927-5112
0 135 West 17" Street
Dubuque,]A 52001
563-589-0570
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Substance Abuse Preveution and Treatment Program
Description of services:
The SASC Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program is one of a network of substance abuse prevention and
treatment programs operated across Iowa under the direction of the Iowa Department of Public Health. The SASC
program is housed in Dubuque and serves primarily clients from Dubuque and Delaware counties.
During FY2003, the program provided assessment and treatment services to 1,888 outpatient clients in Dubuque County
alone. Of those clients:
~ 75% reported alcohol use as their primary or secondary drug of choice
~ 45% reported marijuana use as their primary or secondary drug of choice
~ 14% reported methamphetamine as their primary or secondary drug of choice
~ 84% had been referred for services due to involvement in the criminal justice system
During FY2003, the program provided residential treatment to 53 clients through its Stepping Stone Halfway House in
Dubuque.
During FY2003, the program facilitated the state-mandated drinking/driving program for 373 clients in Dubuque.
During FY2003, the program worked with the Dubuque and Western Dubuque school systems to provide a variety of
substance abuse prevention and early intervention programs in the junior high schools and high schools of the county.
Substances abuse treatment needs to be identified as a health priority in Dubuque County as snpported by the
following:
I. The numbers of clients in the SASC program do not reflect the extent of substance abuse problems in the
Dubuque county area, but rather only those clients who sought services.
2. The 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Survey conducted by the Iowa Department of
Public Health, the State Center for Health Statistics, and in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention estimates that 1 in every 13 adults abuse alcohol or are alcoholics. The consequences of alcohol
misuse are serious and can be life threatening:
~ Increased risk for certain cancers, such as the liver, esophagus and throat
~ Increased risk for liver cirrhosis, immune system problems, and brain damage
~ Increased risk of injury or death from car crashes, as well as recreational and job-related injuries.
3. According to the Iowa Department Of Public Health and Magellan Behavioral Care onowa, methamphetamine
use is on the increase. While only 1.0% of admitted clients in 1992 reported methamphetamine as their primary
drug of choice, that number had increased to 13.4% in 2003. Meth is a powerful and highly addictive drug that
can easily cause long-term brain damage. 14% ofSASC's clients are reporting meth use.
4. The Family and Community Information Tracking System (FACITS) ftom the Iowa Department of Public
Health reports that for 2001 (latest data available), 16.3% of Dubuque county residents report binge drinking,
defined as the consumption of 5 or more drinks on one or more occasion during the past month. The state
average is 16.1 %. Binge drinking is known to lead to legal difficulties, injuries, and death.