STUDY: STATE LAGS IN DRUG HELP

A Columbia University study released today ranks Nevada in the bottom
quarter among states in spending on substance abuse prevention and treatment.

The New York university's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse,
relying on 1998 figures, reported that for every $100 Nevada spent in
response to substance abuse, only $1.28 went to treatment and prevention.

That was only slightly more than one-third the national average of $3.70,
or 37th among the 45 states that participated in the study. North Dakota
topped the list at $10.22.

Nevada also ranked 34th in per capita spending on prevention and treatment
at $3.61, compared with the $11.09 national average and the $31.34 spent by
top-ranked Delaware.

Maria Canfield, chief of the state Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse,
declined comment today because she had not yet seen the report.

But Ron Lawrence, executive director of the nonprofit Community Counseling
Center in Las Vegas, said he believes the figures for Nevada are outdated
and that state lawmakers have become increasingly aware of the importance
of prevention and treatment. His center, which treats about 5,000
individuals annually for substance abuse, relies on state and federal funds.

"I don't know any state legislator who has denied the need for more
substance abuse treatment," Lawrence said. "There's a growing awareness
that treatment programs and law enforcement need to work together."

Nevada was not singled out, however. The report chastised the entire
country for spending too much to "shovel up the wreckage of substance
abuse" rather than concentrating on prevention and treatment.

Of the $81.3 billion that states spent in this area, $77.9 billion went to
justice, education, health care and public safety costs. Only $3.4 billion
was spent on prevention and treatment, as well as alcohol and tobacco
regulation and compliance. Education spending included costs for drug
testing in schools and to educate children with disabilities due to their
parents' drug use.

Nevada spent $466.8 million in 1998 in response to substance abuse through
its courts, law enforcement, schools and health care system but only $6
million on prevention and treatment, the report stated.

The Ivy League research center is chaired by former Health, Education and
Welfare Secretary Joseph Califano Jr. Its board members include former
first lady Nancy Reagan and Columba Bush, wife of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and
sister-in-law to President Bush.

Califano said states can reduce crime, slow Medicaid spending increases and
move families from welfare to work by spending money on prevention programs
for children and by treating individuals "who get hooked."

"The choice for governors and state legislators is this: Either continue to
tax their constituents for funds to shovel up the wreckage of alcohol, drug
and nicotine abuse and addiction, or recast their priorities to focus on
preventing and treating such abuse and addiction," Califano said.

The Nevada alcohol and drug abuse bureau was berated by legislative
auditors last year for failing to adequately devise programs to combat
substance abuse. The criticism was for fiscal 1999, before Canfield was
named chief and the bureau was placed under the state Health Division.

But Lawrence said he is confident state lawmakers will begin pouring more
money into prevention and treatment. Nevada, for instance, is expected to
receive about $1 million in additional federal dollars this year for that
purpose, he said.

But Lawrence also conceded that there is enough demand for his center's
services that he could expand his facilities and staff by one-third if he
had the money.

"We know substance abuse treatment can improve lives," he said. "It's a
factor in 68 percent of domestic violence cases. The state is keenly aware
of these things. It's just a question of how we can all come together on this."