Dr. Barry Karlin; Gen. Barry McCaffrey
SELECTED MEDIA COVERAGE 09/22 to 09/23
Full, unedited broadcast (60 Mins. and 60 secs.) of CRC/eGetgoing Luncheon Sept. 22 and all comments by all participants: “Anti-Drug Town Hall Discussion”, Sept. 24 6PM, also twice Sept. 25, and Sunday Sept. 28
00:24:13 TZ; Health; The new battle of
drugs and addiction is in cyberspace. WA state leads the nation in
Cyber therapy from CRC Health Corporation. I; Laura, Cyber
space therapy, talks about her addiction. I; Barry McCaffrey,
Former US Drug Czar, talks about the success. V; Teengetgoing website.
I; Dr. Richard Ries, Harborview Medical Center, talks about the issue.
Cathy Kiyomura reporting. Western WA organizations using the service
include Shick Shadel, Pierce County Alliance and the Sunnyside school
district. 00:26:16 :LR
00:30:58 TZ; Cyberspace Therapy;
Washington State reportedly leads the nation in Online Substance Abuse
Prevention programs from CRC Health Corporation. V; Cyberspace
therapy. PC; Barry McCaffrey, Former US Drug CZAR, says there
will be a successful outcome of keeping them involved. I; Dr. Richard
Ries, Harborview Medical Center, says in my mind this is good. Local
organizations using the online treatment include Schick Shadel
Hospital, Pierce County Alliance and the Sunny Side School District.
00:33:16 :LR
00:33:13 TZ; On-line Fight; Washington
state's Sunny Side School District, Schick Shadel Hospital, and
Pierce(sp) County Alliance use CRC Health Group's on-line
substance abuse treatment program. V; TeenGetgoing webpage. PC; Barry
McCaffrey, CRC, talks about the program. 00:34:06 :LR
00:12:39 Fighting Drugs; Recap update:
SI; Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Former U.S. Drug Czar, talking about
the new online drug fight website called, E Get Going.
SI; Dr. Barry Karlin, CEO of CRC, talking about online
treatment. 00:17:36 :LR
[Derived from Captioning] 49.31 I think it will be a great benefit the on-line counseling services will be available starting today. Former U-S Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey is in Seattle for the website`s launch... And will join us in the next hour of q-13 fox news this morning.
9/22/03 7:13 AM- 7:18 AM with General Barry McCaffrey, former U.S. Drug Czar, and Dr. Barry Karlin, CEO of country’s largest private drug treatment provider, CRC Health Group
7:33 AM – 8 AM 9/22/03 with Dr. Barry Karlin, CEO of country’s largest private drug treatment provider, CRC Health Group, and General Barry McCaffrey, former U.S. Drug Czar – live 27 minutes.
6:40 AM - 6:48 AM 9/22/03 with Dr. Barry Karlin, CEO of country's largest drug treatment provider, CRC Health Corporation, and General Barry McCaffrey, who as Drug Czar led the nation's fight against drug addiction and trafficking.
6:33 AM - 6:38 AM 9/22/03 with Dr. Barry Karlin, CEO of country’s largest private drug treatment provider, CRC Health Corporation, and General Barry McCaffrey, former US Drug Czar - - live five minutes.
Health Headlines ... 10:17 PM MDT on Monday, September 22, 2003. ... SEATTLE – The new battlefield in the war on drugs is via the Internet ... Former White House Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey says a national anti-drug program by CRC Health Corporation
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Several groups in state offer
online drug treatment
Program may be cheaper, reduce
stigma
By WYATT
BUCHANAN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
An online drug-treatment program developed by a California company
has had initial success with patients, company officials say, and
several Washington groups are offering its services.
The company, CRC Health Group of San Jose, also has the support of Lt. Governor Brad Owen, who wants the Legislature to make such an online service part of the state insurance program.
"There's no direct commitment (by the state) at this point, but we're laying the groundwork for a commitment later," Owen said at a news conference about the program yesterday morning in Seattle.
The program, called eGetgoing, is not meant to replace residential treatment programs, said Barry Karlin, CEO of the health company.
Instead, the focus is on continuing treatment and includes weekly conferencing with counselors.
It addresses the problems of affordability, access and convenience while reducing the stigma of visiting a treatment center, Karlin said.
The program costs $1,200 for 24 sessions. Outpatient treatment can cost $3,000 for the same amount of time, he said. The company is negotiating with insurance companies to cover the program.
In Washington state, Schick Shadel Hospital, a drug and alcohol abuse treatment center, along with the Sunnyside School District southeast of Yakima are using the online service. The Pierce County Alliance also has used it.
Company officials said results from the first 602 patients to use the program showed a higher success rate than with other programs in two areas. The program showed an 80 percent treatment completion rate by clients, compared with 41 percent in other programs nationally as reported by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Also, the company reported that 20 percent of clients who completed the program relapsed in the following nine months, compared with 50 percent to 90 percent nationally.
But those numbers don't tell the whole story, said Dennis Donovan, director of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute at the University of Washington.
He said the federal statistics are taken from public programs, which often have a vastly different clientele than private ones do and whose patients usually have a more severe dependency.
"My bet is if you used the same program with that population, you'd come up with different" numbers, he said in a telephone interview.
"My hope would be if the lieutenant governor was interested in the program, he would have it evaluated on people who are part of the (state's) health plan," Donovan said.
*** (Additional TV and Radio Coverage being tracked and will be added)
US NEWSWIRE – September 22, 2003
Online Drug Treatment Shows Twice Completion Rate of Traditional Treatment, First National Study Shows
9/22/03 1:12:00 PM
To: City and State desks
Contact: Bob Weiner, 202-361-0611 or 301-283-0821
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The first national study of online substance abuse treatment shows twice the completion rate, 80 percent compared to 41 percent, of traditional outpatient drug treatment.
The one-year study of 602 clients and over 15,000 sessions who had utilized the new live videostream counseling was conducted by CRC Health Group of San Jose, Calif., the country's largest private drug treatment provider. CRC's eGetgoing division is the country's first and only accredited online treatment provider.
The 80 percent of clients who completed online outpatient treatment reported today compares to 41 percent completion rates for outpatient treatment reported by HHS/SAMHSA in January 2003 -- nearly double.
The online treatment study was released in Seattle, Wash., during a news conference today by former White House drug czar and four-star general Barry McCaffrey, CRC Health Group CEO Dr. Barry Karlin, Washington State Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, and state and local anti-drug program leaders from throughout Washington State. Karlin, McCaffrey and Owen announced that the state is the first to widely adopt online substance abuse programs as part of a comprehensive approach also including traditional and opiate treatment.
Also announced at the news conference:
-- The state of Alaska Department of Labor also will shortly begin inclusion of online treatment, also powered by CRC's eGetgoing, for youth work training programs.
-- Canada's Department of Health is adopting the program for the nation's Indian youth population.
Gen. McCaffrey asserted, "These developments place Washington state at the forefront of progressive drug policy in the nation. Leaders in Washington state are developing a model for the country, if not the world."
Dr. Karlin stated, "Solutions to the obstacles of access, stigma, privacy, and cost must be overcome if the lives of addicts and alcoholics are to be reclaimed, and online treatment as part of the continuum of care is a needed and revolutionary contribution. We are creating the most appropriate treatment plan to support them in their life-long struggle against addiction."
Source: Robert Weiner and CRC Health Group, 202-361-0611 or 301-283-0821
-0-
/© 2003 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
© 2003 U.S. Newswire
GEN. BARRY MCCAFFREY CRC WASHINGTON NEWS CONFERENCE POINTS,
SEPT. 22, 2003
DR. BARRY KARLIN CRC WASHINGTON NEWS CONFERENCE POINTS, SEPT. 22, 2003
YEAR 1 OUTCOMES OUTPATIENT TREATMENT*
80% of clients completed eGetgoing
online outpatient treatment. This compares to 41% completion rates for
outpatient treatment reported by SAMHSA in The DASIS Report,
January 2003 (Drug and Alcohol Services Information System).
20% of clients reported relapsing over the nine months following completion of eGetgoing outpatient treatment. This compares to a range from 50 % for resumption of heavy use, to 90 % for a brief lapse, reported nationally.
100% of clients reported Excellent to Very Good overall satisfaction following their eGetgoing online treatment program experience.
100% of eGetgoing clients would recommend the program to someone else.
Almost all eGetgoing clients rated their Overall Quality of Life Improved following their online treatment program experience measured at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months and 9 months post treatment. At all four measurements the Improved response were 94% or better.
Individual health was also rated as Improved
through all 1-week to 9-month measures for 90% or more of eGetgoing
online clients.
YEAR 1 OUTCOMES OUTPATIENT TREATMENT*
Treatment Completion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80% of clients completed the program.
Of the 20% who discharged early, all discharged at or before their second group session.
Reasons given for discharge:
8% work-related
6% legal issues
4% no reason given
3% were transitioned to a higher level of care
Relapse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . measured post treatment:
1 week 3 months 6 months 9 months
Rate of Relapse 12% 16% 20% 20%
Length of Relapse 3 days 1.5 days 2 days 2 days
Primary Drug Alcohol Alcohol Alcohol Alcohol
Client Satisfaction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . measured at 1 week post-treatment.
|
MEASURE |
Excellent |
Very Good |
Good |
Average |
Below Average |
Poor |
|
Overall Satisfaction |
68% |
32% |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Convenience |
80% |
20% |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tech support |
78% |
21% |
1% |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Attention from the counselor |
70% |
21% |
9% |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Addiction Information |
65% |
35% |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Useful to recovery |
55% |
39% |
6% |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Counselor competence |
78% |
22% |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Privacy |
78% |
22% |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Understanding of client issues |
70% |
30% |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Experience in group |
67% |
25% |
8% |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Would recommend?
Yes
92%
Probably Yes 8%
Not Sure
0
Probably Not 0
No
0
Quality of Life . . . . . . . . . . measured using the Maudsley Addiction Profile
(MAP) comparing the month before treatment with current date.
|
MEASURE |
1 week post- treatment |
3 months post-treatment |
6 months post-treatment |
9 months post-treatment |
|
Overall… |
||||
|
Much Improved |
57% |
84% |
92% |
90% |
|
Little Improved |
41% |
10% |
8% |
6% |
|
Same |
2% |
6% |
0 |
4% |
|
Somewhat Worse |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Much Worse |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Work/School… |
||||
|
Much Improved |
53% |
77% |
84% |
81% |
|
Little Improved |
41% |
13% |
4% |
8% |
|
Same |
6% |
3% |
4% |
11% |
|
Somewhat Worse |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Much Worse |
0 |
0 |
7% |
0 |
|
Personal & Family Relationships… |
||||
|
Much Improved |
51% |
81% |
80% |
83% |
|
Little Improved |
49% |
10% |
16% |
14% |
|
Same |
0 |
9% |
3% |
3% |
|
Somewhat Worse |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Much Worse |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Social Life… |
||||
|
Much Improved |
53% |
84% |
84% |
84% |
|
Little Improved |
35% |
10% |
8% |
10% |
|
Same |
12% |
6% |
4% |
6% |
|
Somewhat Worse |
0 |
0 |
4% |
0 |
|
Much Worse |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Philosophical/ Spiritual Attitude… |
||||
|
Much Improved |
57% |
74% |
80% |
78% |
|
Little Improved |
35% |
16% |
8% |
16% |
|
Same |
12% |
0 |
8% |
3% |
|
Somewhat Worse |
0 |
10% |
4% |
3% |
|
Much Worse |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Health… |
||||
|
Much Improved |
57% |
74% |
84% |
86% |
|
Little Improved |
35% |
16% |
8% |
10% |
|
Same |
8% |
0 |
8% |
4% |
|
Somewhat Worse |
0 |
10% |
0 |
0 |
|
Much Worse |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
*
These year-one outcomes are based on experience with a 602 clients.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, September 18, 2003
CONTACT: Bob Weiner 301-283-0821 or 202-361-0611
NATIONAL ANTI-DRUG LEADERS TO HOLD NEWS
CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE WASHINGTON STATE TREATMENT LEADERS "MOST
PROGRESSIVE IN NATION", FIRST TO ADOPT FULL, PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMS
INCLUDING TRADITIONAL, ON-LINE, AND METHADONE
FORMER US DRUG CZAR BARRY MCCAFFREY, LIEUT.
GOV. BRAD OWEN, AND DR. BARRY KARLIN, CEO OF CRC, COUNTRY'S LEADING
ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT PROVIDER AND CREATOR OF THE FIRST ACCREDITED
ONLINE TREATMENT, RECOGNIZE WASHINGTON STATE LEADERS:
WILL ALSO ANNOUNCE ONLINE TREATMENT NATIONAL PRELIMINARY FINDINGS:
REDUCED DROPOUT RATES
** NEWS CONFERENCE 10:00AM, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22,
WASHINGTON ATHLETIC CLUB, SEATTLE,
1325 6TH Avenue, LOBBY LOUNGE **
Media Note: Online Treatment Demonstration with
Counselor and Teen Client
STATE ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE OFFICE, TREATMENT, EDUCATION, JUSTICE
and WORKPLACE PROGRAM LEADERS TO PARTICIPATE
(Seattle, WA)- Former US Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey and Washington Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen will join Dr. Barry Karlin, CEO of CRC Health Group, the country's largest private alcohol and drug treatment provider, for a news conference at 10 AM on Monday, September 22 at the Washington Athletic Club, 1325 6th Avenue, in the Lobby Lounge.
They will announce that leaders in the state of Washington are the first in the nation to respond to addiction through a new fully-integrated comprehensive approach that includes traditional facility-based services, medically assisted opiate services, and new online treatment services in all the key areas -- criminal justice, business, education, and healthcare.
In addition to announcing these new comprehensive efforts in Washington State, Karlin and McCaffrey will also announce year-one national results of CRC's eGetgoing, the revolutionary online treatment component for adults and teens, the nation's first and only nationally accredited online substance abuse treatment programs. These initial results will show greater treatment completion and reduced dropout rates than traditional treatment, demonstrating that online treatment's privacy and technology can be a key benefit in the continuum of care for many individuals.
Karlin, McCaffrey, and Owen will be joined by Doug Allen, Chief of Policy and Planning for the Washington State Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and representatives from the nation's most progressive programs now providing fully integrated comprehensive care throughout the state of Washington, including: Pierce County Alliance, Advocates for Wellness, Shick-Shadel Hospital, Lake Chelan Community Hospital, Sunnyside School District, Jubilee Academy, Educational Service District 123 and Drug Free Business.
"These developments, and the comprehensive response throughout Washington State, place it at the forefront of progressive drug policy in the nation," McCaffrey asserted. "Leaders in Washington State are developing a model for the country, if not the world."
Dr. Karlin will discuss eGetgoing's expansion into Washington State's school districts and treatment providers where they are integrating online programs into their substance abuse prevention education, early identification, intervention and treatment efforts. Dr. Karlin will report the first year's preliminary national results citing client satisfaction, retention and completion rates and other indications of online treatment effectiveness. Karlin asserted that CRC's successful experience, making it the nation's number one provider, demonstrates the importance of alternate online help, which Karlin stated is "an addition -- not a replacement -- in the continuum of care."
Gen. McCaffrey asserted, "The drug treatment gap has remained a national crisis. Comprehensive services, including online treatment as eGetgoing is now providing, are a needed and revolutionary contribution to help reduce it."
"We are demonstrating everyday the importance of meeting addicts and alcoholics where they are and creating the most appropriate treatment plan to support them in their life-long struggle against addiction," Karlin stated. "Solutions to the obstacles of access, stigma, privacy and cost must be overcome if their lives are to be reclaimed. It's time to end the suffering."
CRC offers the nation's first fully integrated continuum of care including traditional residential and outpatient treatment, medically assisted treatment for opiate addiction and the online substance abuse treatment programs of eGetgoing.
(Source: Robert Weiner Associates and CRC Health Group 301-283-0821)
CRC Washington State Radio and Television
Interviews and Coverage: Transcribed Selections
FOX TV Q13 KCPQ "ONLINE DRUGS" 9/22/03 7:13 AM -
LIVE INTERVIEW OF DR. BARRY KARLIN AND GEN. BARRY MCCAFFREY
Host: Can online treatment help drug addiction? That is the hope of some top drug fighters as Washington State leads the country in a new kind of program. Joining us this morning are General Barry McCaffrey former US Drug Czar, and Dr. Barry Karlin, the CEO of CRC Health Group, the country’s leading alcohol and drug treatment provider. Gentlemen, good morning. Thank you for being with us.
Gen. McCaffrey & Dr. Karlin: Thank you. Good morning.
Host: Let’s start with you General McCaffrey. This is called eGetgoing, a combination treatment type of an approach relatively new to the country; Washington of course leading the way. How are we doing that?
Gen. Barry McCaffrey (Former US Drug Czar): Pretty well. This morning, 10:00 at the Washington Athletic Center, we are going to be joined by Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen and a lot of the leaders of the state, first of all to recognize how advanced, how comprehensive, how integrated Washington State has been in approaching this problem. We have 16 million Americans who need treatment that cannot get it. And so what CRC health corporation, Dr. Barry Karlin the CEO, is doing is we now have 70 some odd places around the country who are providing care. But the new aspect of this is not just that we can do clinical services residential care, but now we have eGetgoing online delivery of therapeutic care.
Host: Well let’s talk to Dr. Karlin a little bit about this, because it is the privacy and technology that you are thinking is going to encourage participation in the treatment and that is what you found in the past.
Dr. Barry Karlin (CEO of CRC): Correct. General McCaffrey mentioned the 16million people; only 3 million get treatment. That leaves 13 million that do not get treatment and the reason for that is mainly a result of affordability, privacy, lack of convenience, and lack of capacity. And that’s where online treatment is so powerful. It enables a huge number of people, who otherwise have no access to treatment, to get treatment.
Host: You have some preliminary results so far. Can either one of you tell me a little bit about that; how it’s made an impact?
Dr. Karlin: Sure, I can answer that. First of all we found out based on 600 patients and more than 15,000 sessions in the last year number one completion rates. We have an 80% completion rate that compares to 41% in more traditional programs. Relapse rates 9 months after programs completed: we have a treatment rate of only 20% relapse versus typically 50% relapse. So already we have some pretty positive results demonstrating the efficacy of online treatment.
Host: Sounds good. General McCaffrey, let me ask you about the big picture a little bit. If I am not an addict, I don’t know someone who is an addict, I don’t know someone in my neighborhood that is an addict; how does this affect the general population as a whole.
McCaffrey: Drug and alcohol abuse is probably the dominant problem effecting American communities, and half of us know someone who is involved in drug abuse. We are going to be joined today by Pat Oday of Shick-Shadel Hospital and John Hughes from Sunnyside School District so we have to recognize that our adolescents here in the Seattle area and our employees are all affected by this problem. So if you are a viewer and know someone who is affected, have them call and get help because help is possible. You can achieve sobriety and maintain it and this eGetgoing tool is going to prevent relapse and that’s the big deal. Thank god for AA and NA but now we have eGetgoing to add another tool.
Host: And then you have a next wave of treatment that follows. We find out this morning that Alaska will follow suite and that Canada will join for the Indian population. Please explain a little bit about that, the Indian population.
Karlin: What we see happening is that in many parts of the country, counties where organizations and states cannot offer traditional treatment easily to certain subpopulations, they now have access to a way to do that, through eGetgoing, through online treatment. Essentially what we are doing is taking the treatment to where the population addicted is, not requiring them to go only to where treatment is offered. In large cities it easy to get treatment, but in rural areas it’s much more difficult, and that is one of the areas where online treatment is so powerful.
Host: And who pays for all of this?
McCaffrey: First of all I think that this is an important point to make, that it is a fraction of the cost of residential care; so this is not meant to replace residential care; this is really an adjunct. I think we are going to find that drug court systems, that the law enforcement authorities, that the school districts, that people who care about children, that those that have health insurance that will cover it, are all going to find this is a very useful tool and is much less expensive than traditional care.
Host: So it sounds like this is a combination of funding is what you are talking about and specifically mentioning health insurance. One of the new developments here is that health insurance will do this as well.
Karlin: We are working with many insurance companies, yes, to get to the place where they will cover online treatment. eGetgoing, in fact, is fully accredited by JCAHO and CARF, which are the two national organizations that accredit all hospitals and health care organizations and we have that and we are unique in that way.
Host: Sounds like one of the challenges in the future as well, General McCaffrey and Dr. Karlin. Thank you so much for joining us this morning, 13 FOX news. We appreciate it and good luck.
KING 5 NBC NEWS at 5:00 PM "CYBERSPACE THERAPY" 9/22/02
Announcer: The new battlefield in the war on drugs in cyberspace. Washington State reportedly leads the nation in online substance abuse prevention programs. Conquering addiction may be just a mouse click away.
"Laura" (shown at compute talking to counselor): I’m not putting myself in a situation where there might be drugs or alcohol.
Reporter: 15 year-old Laura participates in cyberspace therapy. She’s talking online to her alcohol and drug counselor.
Counselor: Would you share with the group a specific incident where you were drinking or using more than you intended to do?
Laura: Sure. I was with my boyfriend…
Reporter: Online group treatment with a counselor is relatively new, and Washington State is the first state to widely adopt online programs.
(Show Cynthia Reinbach, titled, on computer screen and Laura at desk.)
Reporter: CRC Health Group is demonstrating its version of online drug treatment. Former White House Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey says a new national study shows online drug treatment has twice the success rate of traditional face-to-face therapy.
(Show podium with Dr. Barry Karlin, General McCaffrey, and others:)
McCaffrey: We’re finding that with online care, particularly with adolescents, there is enormously successful outcome so they stay in treatment.
Reporter: While online therapy may fill the gap in alcohol and drug treatment, the jury is still out on how effective it is.
Dr. Richard Ries, Harborview Medical Hospital: There is way less treatment available than there are disorders. Anything we can add to the mix that can engage another person, support another4 person, help another person, in my mind that’s probably good. There might be some downsides though.
Reporter: Backers of online therapy say online drug treatment may help addicts and alcoholics reclaim their lives by making treatment as close as a mouse. In Seattle, Cathy Kiyomora, King 5 News.
Announcer: Local organizations using the online drug treatment include Shick-Shadel Hospital, Pierce County Alliance, and the Sunnyside School District.
RADIO INTERVIEWS (Selections)
KTTH RADIO Interview9/22/03 6:40am-
LIVE WITH DR. BARRY KARLIN AND GEN. BARRY MCCAFFREY
…
Host: We are joined by Dr. Barry Karlin, CEO of the country’s largest drug treatment organization, and four-star Gen. Barry McCaffrey, former U.S. Drug Czar, who are pressing for new drug treatment programs that Washington State will be offering. General, what brings you out here?
Gen. McCaffrey: Dr. Karlin and I, joined by Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen along with a lot of the leadership of the drug and alcohol treatment in the community in Washington, are going to talk about eGetgoing, an online delivery system for alcohol and drug treatment -- revolutionary and it’s working and perhaps Dr. Karlin you might say a word about it.
Karlin: Absolutely. We are very excited. Online drug treatment started about 2 ½ years ago in CRC and what it boils down to is essentially providing live treatment using a video stream to approximately 10 patients each at sessions throughout the country. The patients do not need to be in the same location. They are talking to one another and talking to a professional counselor. They can see the counselor live but you can not see one another, so what it does is, it allows people to get treatment wherever they have to be and does not require people to go out to where the treatment is offered.
Host: Now I have done some work with an organization called National Center for Attitude Change in Boston years ago at Boston State Hospital…outpatient work actually in the communication field itself… self-image, self-respect… because if you don’t have a good self-image and you don’t have self respect you become self destructive or can become self destructive and that’s what part of what the drug problem is….
Karlin: We have 80% completion compared to 41% for traditional treatment and 20% relapse versus 50% in traditional programs so we have seen some very positive results which is suggesting that online drug treatment is a powerful weapon in going after the drug addiction problem…
RADIO AMERICA "BATTLE LINE" WITH ALAN NATHAN 9/22/03 10:30-11:00-
LIVE INTERVEIW WITH DR. BARRY KARLIN AND GEN. BARRY MCCAFFREY
Alan: (Introduction) We are going to go ahead and detour off our normal political thunderous rhetoric and take a look at a problem that’s facing the country and some of the people who wish to do something about it. First General Barry McCaffrey, military analyst and former Clinton Drug Czar, now helping in kids’ drug interdiction. Welcome General.
McCaffrey: Yes, good to be with you Alan.
Alan: Good to have you, good to have you. Also on board with me is Dr. Barry Karlin, a leader in child advocacy in anti-drug programs nationwide. He’s the chairman and CEO of the country’s largest alcohol and drug treatment provider, CRC Health Group. Sir, welcome back to you.
Karlin: Pleasure Alan.
Alan: And also General Barry McCaffrey is a chief spokesman for that same organization. General we have had you on before discussing this, some curious kind of headway has been made. Tell the audience exactly what you guys are trying to do and how far you have come along. I know the Internet, the partners of communication around the globe, has been this new instrument. How effective has it proved to be?
McCaffrey: Well it’s revolutionary, we think. Look you know that problem is enormous; 16 million Americans need drug or alcohol treatment and only 3 million get it. So, you know that some of the good news is that CRC Health Group has now got some 70 traditional and medically assisted treatment programs around the country. But the key, Alan, is the continuing care, relapse prevention, and so today we are announcing a series of people who have stepped up to the plate and signed on for eGetgoing, which is online delivery of a drug and alcohol treatment. The numbers that Dr. Barry Karlin can talk to is really spectacular to the degree to which people stay in the treatment and report that it is changing their drug taking behavior.
Alan: Dr. Karlin, Granted that the inroads may be dramatic, but at the same time the paradox lies in the fact that you are depending on the very tool that is often used to hook them on drugs. That’s an irony that you can’t dismiss is it?
Karlin: Well, not really. I think that when you take a look at the results that we have seen in the first year with 600 patients and more than 15,000 sessions and what we found with this initial group is really is a pilot, is that 80% of the clients in the program completed the program; which compares to 41% nationwide in more traditional programs. And that completion rate is the single biggest predictor of its long-term effects. In addition to that, it is found that after 9 months after the beginning of the program we only experienced a 20% relapse rate of the online treatment which compares very variable with the more traditional 50% programs. So what we are seeing is that when it comes to online treatment, people are very excited about using it. It allows them to get treatment at the location at which they happen to be and does not require them to go to the location, so what’s happening is that people who otherwise would not get treatment or get continuing care are in fact now being treated.
Interview continues for 27 minutes…
NEWS KIRO RADIO INTERVIEW 9/22/03 6:33 A.M.-
LIVE WITH DR. BARRY KARLIN AND GEN. BARRY MCCAFFREY
McCaffrey: ... Dr. Barry Karlin is the President and CEO of CRC Health Group. What we are going to do is first of all stand with the leadership in the drug and alcohol treatment community in the state of Washington and tell them how progressive they are that we have comprehensive integrated approaches. I think the second thing is, Dr. Karlin is going to be very keen on doing, is to outline a revolutionary new step in which we-for the first time really in history-are able to deliver health care over the internet. Tremendous results. People stay in treatment, they like it; we are having an impact on the 16 million people…