Results of the observed drug test confirm his assertion that he is substance free.
Other highlights include:
His endorsement of Vocational Rehabilitation services
The Governor's endorsement of Drug Courts (which could mean they get their funding back if we push properly)
Davis still plans to insist that work 1st applicants submit to drug tests
He plans to require that people receiving unemployment benefits submit to a drug test.
Meeting notes:
Strategy and tactics
Three messages citing the concerning bill, stating credentials, and offering to discuss policy options got me a call back in which I secured a meeting.
Meeting began by aligning: “What outcomes are you hoping to achieve with this bill?”, etc.
Once reduced substance abuse is the identified goal we begin discussing strategies to achieve this goal. I presented 4 areas for work Transportation, IDDT, Drug Courts, and access to Inpatient Treatment. Citing outcome studies supporting cost savings and social impacts of recommended policy interventions.
Sources of resistance to change: Dehumanizing language, Us-vs.-Them thinking, and implied futility of treatment/feelings of powerlessness to address the problem.
Clarified Sen. Davis’ circular reasoning –
1. We cannot afford treatment (phrased as How much do we spend trying to help before we warehouse them?)
2. Warehousing (i.e. jail) is more expensive and does not address addiction
3. We aren’t going to just shoot them.
So where does this leave us? Treatment reduces rates of addiction and incarceration and is therefore a cost saving intervention, so if we cannot afford treatment then we certainly cannot afford warehousing. And if we have ruled out summary execution this leaves no options (other than leaving them free and out of treatment which is also unacceptable).
Rhetorical issues: “I do not believe that addiction is a disease.” “Addiction is a plague. Plague was brought by rats and that’s exactly what drug dealers are.” Response: Plague is a disease so if you are going to deny that addiction is a disease you may want to change your metaphor (He agreed on this point). I will not dehumanize another person by comparing them to vermin, even drug dealers, because that leads the mind towards extermination. (This rhetorical device was not repeated).
“How much should we spend on treatment?” Response: I refuse to place a dollar value on a human life. (Rhetorical device was not repeated.)
Materials used for this meeting are available on request and anyone interested in coordinating efforts on these or related issues, feel free to drop me a line.
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