The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "drug and alcohol treatment" ...
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This is work release?
Fox 6 found that Milwaukee County had lax oversight and monitoring of "felony inmates who'd been granted community access for work, school, or treatment."
Tags: prison; felony; work release; confidential sources; hidden camera; job; drugs; alcohol; murder; Wisconsin
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Special Treatment: Disciplining Doctors
Hospitals and state medical boards across the United States have given physicians repeated chances to keep practicing, despite well-documented alcohol and drug problems. Even doctors that have criminal records do not have their doctor's licenses revoked. This is due partially to the practice that allows doctors to move to another state and start a new job before the paperwork being slowly processed caught up with them. It is also due to loopholes in the National Practitioner Data Bank.
Tags: doctors; doctor's license; alcohol; drug problems; criminal records; National Practitioner Data Bank
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Armed and Dangerous
WKMG found the State of Florida issuing concealed weapons permits to people who were prohibited by Federal and state law from even possessing guns because they were involuntarily committed by judges to mental institutions or drug-and-alcohol-treatment centers. The politically potent National Rifle Association and its allies have stifled any discussion in Florida about using public records to check on the mental health of the gun buyers. They claim the information is private, but this investigation shows how easily it could be done--if wanted to. This tape also looks at cases of mentally ill patients who have walked into public places like churches and opened fire to kill people.
Tags: TAPE; gun; National Rifle Association; NRA; mental; Florida; weapon; concealed weapon; permit; judge; mental institution; drug treatment; alcohol treatment; public records; mental health; gun buyer; privacy; concealed weapon permit; drug and alcohol treatment; psychotic disorder; concealed weapon permit holder; concealed weapon permit program; US Marshall Service; kill; concealed firearm; scheme; mental health record; health record; Florida legislature; gun control law; mentally ill; killing
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Juvenile Justice
Tulsa World reports on how Oklahoma juvenile criminals are evaluated, treated and returned to society. The findings are based on public records, court databases and "unprecedented access to the juvenile court and treatment process," the authors report. One story describes a highly successful program, called STARS, for troubled youth. Another part of the series looks at the process of establishing a juvenile sex offender registry. Branstetter and Morgan conclude that " a brush with the law usually is enough to redirect a teenager in trouble."
Tags: CAR; crime; sex offenders; children; teenagers; probation; law enforcement; police; judges; prosecutors; drugs; alcohol abuse
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Patients don't get full story on doctors
San Francisco Chronicle reports on the lack of information about malpractice verdicts on the website of the Medical Board of California. The story reveals that the public database omits records on doctors' misdemeanors, remedial actions (like drug and alcohol treatment programs), malpractice settlements, various lawsuits, complaints, detailed information on formal discipline, etc. Consumers are required to write the Medical Board for detailed information, and often wait for weeks to get a response. Wallack points to three high-dollar verdicts against negligent doctors, which were not included in the state board's database.
Tags: San Diego's Center for Public Interest Law; physicians; licensing; incompetence; negligence
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The War on Addiction
Newsweek takes an in-depth look at America's drug war, discovering that "drug addiction is increasingly being viewed more as a disease than a crime." The article examines a variety of topics ranging from drug treatments to how an addiction affects one's brain. "An addiction brain is different- physically different, chemically different from a normal brain . . . addictive drugs alter the brain's pleasure circuits." Reporters also investigate drug turnover rates and why many Americans relapse. In addition, Newsweek reports on the importance of anti-drug messages and how they have "significantly reduced usage among children in every age group."
Tags: drugs; treatment; drug courts; alcoholism; zero tolerance policy; schools; rehabilitation; medication; anti-drug campaigns
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Veil of Secrecy
KSTP found government workers who accepted illegal gifts and perks to help keep beds full at two drug and alcohol treatment centers in the Twin Cities. Owners of the treatment centers routinely accepted rapists, murderers and child molesters while reassuring elected officials and neighbors they didn't accept violent criminals. All of it at taxpayers' expense. KSTP also documented how the owners of the treatment centers ignored staff concerns abut inadequate security. At least three of the staff members were sexually assaulted by clients who had violent criminal histories.
Tags: CAR TAPE
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Lonely Deaths
The tragic stories of five people who fell over the edge of society illustrates the growing problem of the homeless in the local community. The estimated 3,000 homeless in the area are local human beings suffering from a lack of health, alcohol, drug and mental health treatment as well as vulnerability to violence on the he streets. Not nearly enough is being done to help.
Tags: homeless; health; mental treatment; violence; clinic; shelter
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No title (id: 3527)
KYTV-TV (Springfield, Mo.) broadcasts four-part series on alcohol treatment centers; finds centers that vary widely in cost and method of treatment; centers are not regulated; finds one center was using drugs and techniques unapproved by the FDA, February 1986.
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No title (id: 3516)
WGST Radio (Atlanta) series describes how private drug-and alcohol-abuse treatment centers are extremely profitable for the doctors and owners; most of the work is done by recovering addicts and alcoholics who are paid minimum wage, June 24 - 27, 1985.