Bill to Create Veteran Treatment Courts

Week of August 11, 2008

A growing number of veterans are denied the mental health treatment needed to address post traumatic stress disorder and end up in legal trouble for self-medicating themselves. In response to this trend, Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans (SERV) Act to create veteran drug treatment courts to help veterans combat the cycle of alcohol or drug addiction. A similar program is operational in Buffalo, NY and has already seen great success. The SERVE Act would authorize funds to go to the Office of National Drug Control Policy for the development and implementation of veteran's treatment courts or to enhance operational drug courts to serve veterans.