Shoveling Up: : The Impact of Substance Abuse On State Budgets

Publication Date:

Publisher:

Author(s): The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University

Research Area: Social conditions

Type: Report

Abstract:

In "Shoveling Up: The Impact of Substance Abuse," The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) presents the results of a three-year study on the cost to state governments of substance abuse and addiction. This is the first report to analyze the impact of all substance abuse on individual state budgets. CASA extensively surveyed individual states, examined programs designed to prevent and treat substance abuse or deal with consequences of substance abuse and interviewed state budget and program officials. The report focused on 16 areas of state spending including criminal and juvenile justice, transportation, health care, education, child welfare and welfare. Data indicates that in 1998 although states spent more than $81 billion dollars on substance abuse and addiction, only $3 billion dollars went towards prevention and treatment. These figures do not include matching federal funds or local government expenses. The vast majority of the funds were spent to clean up the damage of abuse and addiction. Accordingly, CASA's report provides detailed recommendations to: (1) target treatment and prevention efforts using state powers of legislation, regulation, and taxation and (2) improve program management and service delivery. One specific opportunity to reduce expenses and substance abuse-related crimes involves the treatment and training of prisoners who abuse drugs and/or alcohol. This report calls for governors and state legislators to rethink their approach to substance abuse and addiction when allocating funds.