Leon Evans Parity Document EBSA-2009-0010-0001 Ph.210 731-1300 CHCS levans@chcsbc.org Page 1 of 3 

Treatment Works 

By Leon Evans 

Public Comment: Parity, Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and 

Addiction Parity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA)-Public comment . 

The Challenge: 

• We have tens of thousands non-violent mentally ill persons who find themselves 

in our emergency rooms, jails and prisons that should be treated in our state 

hospitals and other appropriate community settings. 

• Family, friends, law enforcement, the business community, and tax payers are all 

burdened with the behaviors of these persons going untreated. 

• We all struggle with a population whose illness is so debilitating and their 

personal health seeking ability is almost non-existent, therefore; treatment seems 

to be impossible 

• There is a lack of resources to address the needs for early intervention and 

treatment available for persons on the road to being hopelessly addicted to alcohol 

and drugs. 

• It is a known fact that persons with severe mental illness die 25 years earlier than 

the general population. 

• There is a lack of education and services 

The Nature of Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

Mental illnesses are costly. The failure to treat them affects not only an individual’s 

overall health but the cost of health care, including costs that must be borne by public 

systems. 

• Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in the United States for people 

between the ages of 15 and 44.2 

• The nature of severe mental illness is such that it renders you so dysfunctional 

that you do not know how to access services then you have an impossible time 

actually getting treated, even if some type of benefit is available. 

• The Global Burden of Disease study indicates that the burden of disease from 

mental disorders for countries like the U.S. exceeds that of any other health 

condition.3 

• Many times the person starts self medicating with alcohol or drugs 

• Because of the pain and suffering, personal ties are cut 
Leon Evans Parity Document EBSA-2009-0010-0001 Ph.210 731-1300 CHCS levans@chcsbc.org Page 2 of 3 

• For troubled kids there is no early Intervention; treatment is fragmented 

• Virginia Tech, Columbine and others are places where no early identification and 

limited to no resources produced tragic results 

Data

• Federal studies show that the best drug treatment programs pay for themselves 12 

times over. 

• Re-vocation rates show significant decrease when treatment is available 

• 2003 President’s Freedom Commission On Mental Health – Final Report “ In 

addition to the tragedy of lost lives, mental illnesses come with a devastatingly 

high financial cost. In the US, the annual economic, indirect cost of mental illness 

is estimated to be $79 billion”. 

• Mental illnesses and substance use disorders resulted in $193 billion in lost 

productivity in 2002. By 2013 this loss is estimated to rise to more than $300 

billion. (1,2,3,and 4 -Integrating Mental Health in Healthcare, The Bazelon 

Center) 

• One in 100 are behind bars, a large number of which are non violent mentally ill 

offenders: Behind Bars in America, 2008 Pew Research Report 

• 75 to 90 % of people with psychiatric disabilities are outside the labor force in the 

US. Anthony and Bianch, 1987 

• Drug abuse costs hit $468 Billion, NYTimes, May 2009 

• Cost Avoided if One Criminal Career is Prevented -$ 976,217.81 

Essential Needs

• It is critical that the right leadership be identified to ensure a workable and 

sustainable plan—“Who’s going to make us work together” 

• There is a need for “health navigators”, persons who could facilitate access to 

treatment through the maze of what we now call our healthcare system 

• Need for early identification and intervention for children exhibiting behavioral 

problems or for children who have been diagnosed with severe mental illness 

• The need to provide support for their families 

• Need to address the elderly who are abusing prescription drugs and or alcohol 
Leon Evans Parity Document EBSA-2009-0010-0001 Ph.210 731-1300 CHCS levans@chcsbc.org Page 3 of 3 

• Without special supports, wraparound services, care coordinators, patient 

navigators this population wouldn’t get the kind of services or rehabilitation they 

need 

Summary:

• Leadership to so that we can get effective outcomes for these fragile folks 

• Community based solutions 

• Early intervention and prevention 

• Treatment, Housing, Employment 

• Collaboration based on outcome driven data