| Monday President Obama released his 2011 FY | | | | changes. Even as expenditures increased across the |
| budget proposal. As all the players weigh in, it is being | | | | board the proportional allocation emphasizes drug |
| called an attempt to balance domestic policy | | | | addiction treatment and prevention programs. Of the |
| spending, jobs creation and deficit reduction. But | | | | five key policy areas, treatment and prevention |
| even as discretionary spending is being critically | | | | programs received the first and second largest |
| examined, the administration has proposed allocating | | | | percent increases. The budget for treatment |
| significant new resources for the prevention and | | | | programs increased 3.7% over 2010 levels, while that |
| treatment of drug abuse. The budget increases | | | | for preventive services increased 13.5%. |
| highlight the need to address the high social toll of | | | | The treatment and prevention budget increase |
| substance abuse while looking for productive | | | | includes over $150 million for the:o Creation of |
| solutions. | | | | national, community-based prevention systems,o |
| High social costs of untreated substance abuse put | | | | Training for primary health care worker who can |
| additional pressure on communities contending with | | | | identify or intervene with emergent cases,o |
| local budgetary shortfalls. The estimated yearly cost | | | | Expansion of specialty addiction care,o Development |
| of drug abuse is upwards of $180 billion, including | | | | of new management systems for drug-related |
| violent and property crimes, prison expenses, court | | | | offenders ando Establishment of a permanent drug |
| and criminal costs, emergency room visits, child abuse | | | | monitoring system. |
| and neglect, lost child support, foster care and | | | | Interdiction and domestic and international law |
| welfare costs, reduced productivity, unemployment, | | | | enforcement programs received less emphasis than |
| and victimization. But that doesn't take into account | | | | prevention and treatment programs. Enforcement |
| the high cultural costs of substance abuse and | | | | increases are aimed primarily at trafficking and |
| addiction. Especially, as over 23 million Americans | | | | protecting public lands from illicit drug cultivation. |
| meet the medical definition of abuse or addiction | | | | As the 2011 budget moves to Congress, it is |
| (NSDUH 2007). | | | | important to consider the costs and the benefits of |
| "The new budget proposal demonstrates the Obama | | | | prevention and treatment vs. the public health and |
| Administration's commitment to a balanced and | | | | social concerns of abuse and addiction. It is also vital |
| comprehensive drug strategy...targeted at reducing | | | | that Congress move away from funding programs |
| American's drug use and the substantial costs | | | | that have proven ineffective and embrace newer |
| associated with the health and social consequences | | | | programs that have proven higher success rates, |
| of drug use," said Director of National Drug Control | | | | such as rapid drug detox. |
| Policy Gil Kerlikowske of the proposed budget | | | | |