President Bush’s proposed FY 2008 proposal makes sharp cuts to a number of programs critical to providing services for people with addictions disorders. The National Council urges Congress to increase funding for these important addictions programs threatened by substantial funding cuts.

Substance Abuse Prevention And Treatment Block Grant The SAPTBG, supported by SAMHSA, is the foundation of the publicly supported prevention and treatment system in this country. In 2002, nearly 2 million people were served by SAPTBG formula funding. Increasing funding for the SAPTBG is critical to support and expand drug addiction prevention and treatment services and to close the 80% nationwide treatment services gap.

Center For Substance Abuse Treatment CSAT, through its Best Practices portfolio, supports effective treatment through the adoption of evidence-based practice and ensures that what is learned about addiction through scientific research is effectively shared with the treatment provider community. In addition, CSAT's Targeted Capacity Expansion programs support services that are tailored to address specific and emerging drug epidemics and/or underserved populations, such as youth, pregnant and parenting women, and communities of color. These discretionary CSAT funds enable states and regions dealing with emerging needs, such as methamphetamine addiction or veterans returning home in need of essential treatment services, to appropriately address these needs.

Center For Substance Abuse Prevention Addiction is a disease that begins in adolescence; research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse has shown that if we can stop use and abuse before age 25, we will significantly reduce the prevalence of addiction. Prevention efforts are effective in deterring young people from using illicit drugs and alcohol.

Safe And Drug Free Schools And Communities State Grants Program The SDFSC State Grants Program is the backbone of school-based prevention efforts in the United States, and supports community-based prevention programming throughout this country. The SDFSC program has had a significant impact on helping to achieve the 17 percent overall decline in youth drug use over the past three years, documented by the 2004 Monitoring the Future survey. According to recent data, upwards of 37 million youth are served annually by programs funded through SDFSC. Cutting the SDFSC program will leave millions of American children without any drug prevention education.

The National Council urges Congress to increase funding for all of the above important addiction treatment and prevention programs.