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1992.10.01 :  Hurricane Andrew

Contact:  Jeanette Bevett-Mills (301) 443-5052
Jim Miller (301) 443-8956
October 1, 1992

       HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., announced that an
$878,560 assistance grant for alcohol and drug treatment--part of
a $7 million HHS aid package--has been given to Florida to assist
in meeting immediate, emergency needs resulting from Hurricane
Andrew.
       The total aid package for Florida, a part of the
President's overall efforts, is targeted to support the state's
health care and social services needs as residents try to recover
from one of the most severe natural disasters in this country's
history.
       "Substance abuse treatment facilities in Dade and Monroe
counties of Florida were devastated," said Dr. Sullivan. 
"According to state officials, more than 60 licensed alcohol and
drug abuse treatment facilities serve the affected areas.  These
centers admitted more than 20,000 clients within the last year. 
Five major substance abuse programs were virtually annihilated. 
       "The department is committed to substance abuse treatment,
and this grant responds to a recognized health care need," said 
Dr. Sullivan.
       The funding will be used to lease temporary facilities or
mobile vans, and to hire staff and counselors to deal with
disaster-related drug services, according to Dr. Sullivan.
       Florida applied for and received federal help through the
Disaster Relief Assistance Program for Drug Abuse Treatment. 
This program is administered by the Office for Treatment
Improvement, part of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health
Administration.  
       Federal officials at OTI have been in close contact with
state officials in both Louisiana and Florida to determine the
impact on treatment facilities due to damage from Hurricane
Andrew.
       "This emergency assistance will enable the state's
substance abuse treatment professionals to better manage the
array of problems currently being seen in the Dade and Monroe
county communities," said Elaine M. Johnson, Ph.D., acting
administrator of ADAMHA.
       In addition to meeting the treatment needs of previously
diagnosed patients, Florida has to deal with emergency cases
related to the emotional and mental anguish caused by the
hurricane.
       "A disaster such as this often increases the level of
stress experienced by individuals," said Dr. Beny Primm, director
of the Office for Treatment Improvement.  "Many of the
individuals in the affected areas who were in treatment before
the hurricane, or had successfully completed treatment, will have
a greater likelihood of relapsing as a result of the extreme
trauma brought on by the disaster, thus increasing the demand for
services.  The funding will assist health care programs in
handling this demand."   
       The OTI Disaster Relief Assistance Program was established
in 1990 to meet drug treatment needs where the impact of a
presidentially declared disaster has created a health emergency. 
The purpose of the program is to assist states and communities in
restoring drug abuse treatment services following a disaster, and
meet the drug abuse-related emergency needs of disaster victims.


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