I just heard that drug and alcohol treatment programs had their funding

[old mark]

cut, at least that part that came from any government source...Does anyone have any information on this? I can find nothing online about it...fwiw, the person we heard it from blames Obama for it...which I doubt. But I wonder how many GOP cuts in programs and services will be blamed on Obama, just in time for 2012...
Republican politics = lies and smears.

mark

[spanone]

1. politicians would rather build jails in the districts..

[cbayer]

2. There ar federal funds for drug and alcohol treatment? If so, there isn't much there to begin with.

The VA has some programs and most states have some programs, but I don't know of any federally funded programs (I could be way off on this)

[upstatecajun]

3. The VA has many but

they have been cutting some programs out over the past 10 years.

[old mark]

4. ...I used to work for one, and I never heard of this either...Most of those

of which I am aware depend on donations and things like United Way for the few dollars they get,and I KNOW donations are way down because of the economy...I don't get where Obama is blamed for this other than political smears.

mark

[TBF]

7. See my post #6 for details :) nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Many Mental Health Agencies get partial Fed funding, and have those programs.

The funding grew out of the War on Drugs.
I worked for several MH agencies who had Substance Abuse programs ( outpatient).
Also, some clients got Medicaid, partly paid for by Fed funds ( 80% state-20% Feds, I think)

Fed funds usually trickle down to a Regional bureau which takes a cut, then trickles the rest down a State Division,
which takes a cut, then down to a County Agency, which takes a cut, then finally down to the actual service
provider.
Lots of people employed all along the line.

[county worker]

5. Here is our web site for alcohol, drug and mental health services

http://www.countyofsb.org/admhs/

The Alcohol and Drug Program’s major initiative this year is to provide support to the County’s anti-methamphetamine campaign and expand services within resource capabilities. In addition, ADP will be sustaining components of programs which address under-age and binge drinking, as well as providing twenty residential treatment beds for pregnant and parenting women in Santa Maria.

[TBF]

6. There is a whole agency that deals with this (SAMHSA) established by Congress in 1992 -

here is the about page of the website: http://www.samhsa.gov/about/

here is it's budget overview (president proposed for 2012): http://www.samhsa.gov/About/budget.aspx

[cbayer]

10. Great links, thanks. So it looks like they are proposing a $45,000 reduction in the

budget, which is currently 3.43 million a year.

And it looks like the funds that actually go to direct patient services have remained fairly steady or increased in the proposed budget.

Am I reading that right?

[TBF]

11. Yes, they cut some small programs but added others

there could be very legitimate reasons for that (usage etc)... hate to see cuts in this area, while giving tax breaks for the rich, but it could've been much worse.

[cbayer]

13. I think the proposed increase in FTE's may be a good sign and indicate that they

are channeling more of the money to services (hopefully not paper pushers)

Thanks again for the info.

[kenichol]

9. I got request for action from local treatment facility friends

Congress is looking at cuts to substance abuse treatment through SAMHA (Substance Abuse Mental Health something) via our local Behavioral Health Collaborative:

(I can't find their request, but found this):
Oppose Cuts to SAMHSA’s Funding in FY 2011
MESSAGE
Drug and alcohol prevention, treatment and recovery saves lives and money. Rates of substance use are on the rise and state budget cuts threaten essential drug and alcohol funding. Cuts to SAMHSA in FY 2011 would seriously harm the ability of community-based organizations around the country to effectively deal with these issues.
BACKGROUND

* This week, the U.S. House and Senate both approved a two-week continuing resolution (CR) that makes $4 billion in funding cuts from FY 2010 spending levels. This CR, which funds the federal government through March 18th, includes $15 million in cuts to SAMHSA earmarks.

* Approving the two-week CR gives the House and Senate additional time to negotiate a more long-term FY 2011 funding bill.

* A previous House-passed FY 2011 funding bill would have cut SAMHSA funding by over $200 million.

* SAMHSA funding for FY 2011 and FY 2012 is at stake, since FY 2011 funding will set the stage for the next fiscal year. To ensure that critically important drug and alcohol funding is preserved, your Members of Congress need to hear from you today about the importance of funding SAMHSA at the highest possible levels in FY 2011.




http://www.alcoholdrughelp.org/2011/03/04/oppose-cuts-to-samhsas-funding-in-fy-2011/

[TBF]

12. Here is the president's proposed budget -

I don't see million dollar cuts: http://www.samhsa.gov/About/budget.aspx

What am I misreading?

[kenichol]

15. I don't see anything there either

And I can't find my original message-not sure what to say-

[old mark]

14. Thank you for this information-I can't see "Obama cutting funds" for treatment

in any of this...we heard that from a person who is head of a county organization and EXTREMELY right wing...
It struck me as nonsense, and it certainly seems that it is.

mark