Pubdate: Wed, 21 Jun 2006
Source: Asbury Park Press (NJ)
Copyright: 2006 Asbury Park Press
Contact:  http://www.app.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/26
Author: John L. Hulick
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

TOPIC OF THE DAY - BATTLING ADDICTION

Increase Funds For Treatment

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence-New Jersey 
fully supports Parent to Parent's "Just A Nickel a Gallon" campaign 
to dedicate $10 million from Gov. Corzine's expected $15 million 
increase in alcohol tax revenue to the Alcohol Education 
Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund. This fund disburses $11 million 
annually to counties for addiction prevention and treatment and 
drunken driving enforcement efforts. This amount has not changed since 1992.

Addiction treatment expansion is critically needed in New Jersey. One 
in two adults and two in three adolescents who seek treatment here 
are unable to access it due to limited capacity.

A poll by Monmouth University Polling Institute found 64 percent of 
New Jersey's residents support the governor's proposal to increase 
the alcohol tax. This number increases to 72 percent if the new 
revenue is used to fund alcohol or drug treatment, prevention and 
drunken driving enforcement programs.

Consumers of beer, wine and liquor would experience a very slight 
increase as a result of Corzine's proposal, paying 11 cents more per 
case of beer and pennies more per liter of wine or liquor. This 
amounts to $5.85 more per year for the beer drinker who consumes a 
case of beer per week and $5.20 more per year for individuals who 
consume a gallon of wine or liquor per week. The impact would be 
anything but slight on the 3,800 individuals and their families who 
would be able to access treatment should Parent to Parent's proposal 
be adopted by the Legislature.

NCADD-New Jersey implores legislators to hear the pleas of the 
mothers from Parent to Parent and increase the appropriation to the 
AEREF by $10 million. This way, hundreds more families who seek help 
to access addiction treatment for their children would receive the 
care they desperately need.

John L. Hulick

Director Public Affairs And Policy

National Council On Alcoholism And Drug Dependence New Jersey

Hamilton
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