Inform your state's leaders about the true cost of substance abuse

The true cost of substance abuse

A startling new report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University shows that over 15% of all state spending goes to substance misuse and addiction and its consequences. If this were its own state budget category, it would rank second behind spending on elementary and secondary education.

Worse, 94% of this spending goes to pay for the enormous hidden burden of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problems on a wide range of state services like health care and criminal justice -- while less than 3% goes toward prevention and treatment programs that would help.

Take action! Ask your governor and state legislators to read and act on this report, and find out how much money your state is spending to "shovel up" the consequences of substance abuse and addiction.

Review the sample letter below and edit if you wish, fill in your information at the right, and click "send this message."

Subject:

(Edit Letter Below)

New information about how much money our state spends on the problems caused by alcohol, tobacco and other drugs was released last year by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

It is really shocking, because the researchers found that about 15% of ALL state government spending is for alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse and addiction and its consequences. The worst part is that 94% of what states spend on substance abuse goes to pay for the enormous but hidden burden of this problem on public programs such as health care, criminal justice, education, child welfare and mental health -- and less than 3% of this spending goes for prevention and treatment.

I urge you to take a really close look at the facts for our state and read the report here:

http://www.jointogether.org/truecost
 
We can't afford to continue this crazy, upside down spending that wastes billions in taxpayer dollars at a time when resources are scarce and results in untold human suffering. The new report identifies common sense, inexpensive and effective prevention and treatment approaches that would help reduce the costs of substance abuse and addiction.

I urge you to take leadership in developing and implementing a strategy to move our state from enormous spending on the burden of substance abuse to investing in effective addiction prevention and treatment programs.

Please let me know your thoughts on this revealing report. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this important issue with you further.

Signed,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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