Study: State lags in drug help

Monday, Jan. 29, 2001 | 11:16 a.m.

A Columbia University study released today ranks Nevada in the bottom quarter among states in spending on substance abuse prevention and treatment.

The New York university's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, relying on 1998 figures, reported that for every $100 Nevada spent in response to substance abuse, only $1.28 went to treatment and prevention.

That was only slightly more than one-third the national average of $3.70, or 37th among the 45 states that participated in the study. North Dakota topped the list at $10.22.

Nevada also ranked 34th in per capita spending on prevention and treatment at $3.61, compared with the $11.09 national average and the $31.34 spent by top-ranked Delaware.

Maria Canfield, chief of the state Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, declined comment today because she had not yet seen the report.

But Ron Lawrence, executive director of the nonprofit Community Counseling Center in Las Vegas, said he believes the figures for Nevada are outdated and that state lawmakers have become increasingly aware of the importance of prevention and treatment. His center, which treats about 5,000 individuals annually for substance abuse, relies on state and federal funds.

"I don't know any state legislator who has denied the need for more substance abuse treatment," Lawrence said. "There's a growing awareness that treatment programs and law enforcement need to work together."

Nevada was not singled out, however. The report chastised the entire country for spending too much to "shovel up the wreckage of substance abuse" rather than concentrating on prevention and treatment.

Of the $81.3 billion that states spent in this area, $77.9 billion went to justice, education, health care and public safety costs. Only $3.4 billion was spent on prevention and treatment, as well as alcohol and tobacco regulation and compliance. Education spending included costs for drug testing in schools and to educate children with disabilities due to their parents' drug use.

Nevada spent $466.8 million in 1998 in response to substance abuse through its courts, law enforcement, schools and health care system but only $6 million on prevention and treatment, the report stated.

The Ivy League research center is chaired by former Health, Education and Welfare Secretary Joseph Califano Jr. Its board members include former first lady Nancy Reagan and Columba Bush, wife of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and sister-in-law to President Bush.

Califano said states can reduce crime, slow Medicaid spending increases and move families from welfare to work by spending money on prevention programs for children and by treating individuals "who get hooked."

"The choice for governors and state legislators is this: Either continue to tax their constituents for funds to shovel up the wreckage of alcohol, drug and nicotine abuse and addiction, or recast their priorities to focus on preventing and treating such abuse and addiction," Califano said.

The Nevada alcohol and drug abuse bureau was berated by legislative auditors last year for failing to adequately devise programs to combat substance abuse. The criticism was for fiscal 1999, before Canfield was named chief and the bureau was placed under the state Health Division.

But Lawrence said he is confident state lawmakers will begin pouring more money into prevention and treatment. Nevada, for instance, is expected to receive about $1 million in additional federal dollars this year for that purpose, he said.

But Lawrence also conceded that there is enough demand for his center's services that he could expand his facilities and staff by one-third if he had the money.

"We know substance abuse treatment can improve lives," he said. "It's a factor in 68 percent of domestic violence cases. The state is keenly aware of these things. It's just a question of how we can all come together on this."