Regards as backbone of the treatment delivery system

For Immediate Release - Alexandria, VA

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NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals, urged Congress today to approve President Bush's fiscal year 2004 budget request for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as Charles Curie, the federal agency's administrator, testified on the budget before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

"NAADAC regards the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant and the 'Programs of Regional and National Significance' as the backbone of the treatment delivery system," NAADAC President Roger A. Curtiss said.

"SAMHSA has made great strides in delivering effective services to the families, communities and individuals impacted by the illness of addiction," Curtiss said. "For every dollar spent on treatment at least seven dollars is saved in terms of health care costs, increased productivity and reduction in accidents. SAMHSA has shown its value to the taxpayers and deserves to be funded at the president's requested level."

The administration is requesting $1.785 billion for the block grant and $557 million for the Programs of Regional and National Significance (PRNS).

"NAADAC welcomes the president's initiative to provide treatment access for an additional 100,000 persons a year who seek but cannot obtain treatment services," Curtiss said. The requested $200 million for the initiative is part of the PRNS.

"Certainly, the administration's full request of $2.34 billion for substance use disorder treatment should be granted, when you consider that addiction costs America society $300 billion a year," Curtiss said.

NAADAC commended SAMHSA on several of its on-going and recent programs, including its report to Congress on co occurring disorders and its effort to facilitate a nationwide strategic prevention framework.