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| Frequent Drug Testing for Sober Living |
| Written by Jenna Bensoussan | |
| Wednesday, 23 July 2008 | |
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OREM - Recovering addicts will have to prove their sobriety more often if they want to stay in this city.
Under an ordinance the City Council unanimously approved Tuesday night, the operators of "sober living" homes will have to test their residents at least twice a week. Plus, the residents have to show that they voluntarily gave up alcohol or drugs the month before they entered the group home - and didn't just kick the habit because they were in jail. Assistant City Attorney Steve Earl said the ordinance reflects recommendations made by residents after the council passed an ordinance creating standards for sober-living homes in April. Prior to that, the homes were allowed under the category of group homes, but city code did not specifically address homes for recovering addicts. The old ordinance required testing four times a month, but Earl said doubling it is actually better for everyone. "This is a benefit for the group home operators because studies show when residents know they are being tested more frequently, they have more incentive to stay sober," Earl said. Jen Makin, who operates a sober-living home, agrees. "I think it would be better to have it five times a week, especially on the weekends," Makin said. She said there is no incentive for her to keep relapsing addicts in a home where other residents are struggling to remain sober. She said those who cheat are removed as soon as possible. The city did drop a suggestion to have the tests done at an independent lab because of the high cost of private lab tests. Earl said the city also dropped a provision in the old ordinance that would have allowed the city to conduct inspections. He said that would have violated the constitutional prohibition on unreasonable searches. Councilman Carl Hernandez said the important thing was to come up with an ordinance that doesn't run afoul of federal laws governing fair housing and the rights of the disabled. "I'm grateful the staff has worked within the rules to craft a law that is both legally defensible and caters to the concerns of residents," Hernandez said.
-- The Salt Lake Tribune
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