Maryland Panel Urges More Funding for Drug Treatment
Hoping to provide treatment for all substance abusers in Maryland, a legislative task force recommended yesterday that the state increase spending for drug and alcohol programs by $300 million over 10 years, the Baltimore Sun reports. Under the proposal, the state would provide $200 million in tax revenue, and insurers and other private firms would contribute the remaining funds. Based on two years of study, the task force report also calls for closer monitoring of addiction programs to "ensure their effectiveness." In addition, the task force's recommendations included:
- enacting laws that require private health insurers to improve drug and alcohol treatment;
- increasing drug treatment delivery from HealthChoice, Maryland's Medicaid managed care program;
- boosting salaries for all public drug and alcohol treatment system employees;
- implementing a statewide system for measuring the effectiveness of different programs;
- establishing a drug and alcohol council to coordinate treatment and funding statewide.
Spend Money to Save Money
While more than 70,000 substance abusers in Maryland receive treatment, thousands remain on waiting lists. Task force co-chair Del. Dan Morhaim (D) said, "It's terrible that there are people who want to get in addiction treatment and can't get in." In last year's budget, Gov. Parris Glendening (D) and the Legislature added $25 million to addiction treatment, and Glendening has proposed an additional $22 million this year, while Republicans have called for $25 million. "We think that drug treatment is part of a strong, effective crime control package," Del. Robert Flanagan (R) said, adding, "Punitive measures certainly have a role to play, but we're not being realistic if we don't have a treatment component." According to studies, problems associated with drug and alcohol abuse cost the state between $1.3 billion and $5.5 billion annually. Studies also have shown that every $1 spent on treatment saves $5 to $7 in addiction-related costs, such as "pressures" placed on the criminal justice system, child welfare and education. Task force co-chair Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (D) called the plan to expand treatment "long overdue," adding, "For too long and in too many neighborhoods in Maryland, addicts have had better access to drugs than to treatment. We plan to change that."
Morhaim added that while an "infusion" of funding would not help every addict, the money could help many individuals still on waiting lists (Richissin/Waldron, Baltimore Sun, 2/7).
