REDUCING SUBSTANCE ABUSE MAKES GOOD ECONOMIC SENSE

Kat Rice, executive director of the Greenville County Commission on
Alcohol and Drug Abuse, is a native of New Orleans, La. She came to
the commission in February 2001 with 20 years of experience in
fughtinh substance abuse and 12 years in executive leadership positions.

A recent study implemented by the Tripp Umbach Research firm of
Philadelphia and funded by the Greenville County Commission on Alcohol
and Drugs Abuse concluded that Greenville County residents lose a
whopping $503 million each year to the consequences of substance abuse
- - that's $1,300 per resident for legal and criminal expenses, lost
wages, juvenile delinquency, traffic violations/fatalities and
health-care claims. On the positive side, the Umbach study supports
research findings that substance abuse treatment works and that every
dollar invested saves seven dollars in losses. This is a much better
return on the dollar investment than the current stock market!

Why, then, is substance abuse prevention and treatment not a greater
priority to local leaders and citizens? The consequences suffered by
abusers on a wide scale result in the massive costs to the taxpayer
cited above.

The preponderance of evidence points to the fact that this is a
chronic, progressive, primary disease - one that is fatal if left
untreated over time. This disease does not disappear spontaneously. It
only gets worse. As it progresses, the consequences eventually become
so severe that the abuser either must take action to stop - or die.
Death typically comes in the form of serious health problems,
vehicular accidents or even suicide.

The Umbach study shows that Greenville County has the highest
incidence of substance abuse in the entire state. Nearly 10 percent of
Greenville's population over the age of 12 (30,451 persons) is
identified as needing treatment. Only a fraction of them seek help
and/or have the money or insurance to pay for treatment.

Treatment for persons without resources, moreover, is becoming harder
to sustain due to heavy budget cuts by the state compounded by a low
level of awareness and support at the local level. Without adequate
resources, effective treatment programs are compromised. Without such
programs, it is impossible for many substance abusers to make the
successful transition from detoxification to rehabilitation and a
return to civic and family responsibility.

As the largest provider of substance abuse treatment and prevention
services in Greenville County, the Alcohol and Drugs Abuse Commission
serves as a safety net to assist people with no insurance and/or few
resources. In its absence, many people would be ultimately forced to
seek help in the emergency room.

The commission now provides such treatment to more than 3,400 persons
annually and makes available prevention, education and intervention
services to another 30,000. Recent budget cuts from the South Carolina
Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services have made it
necessary for the Greenville commission to turn to local sources for
help. This is indeed a slim reed to grasp!

Greenville County's contribution represents less than 2 percent of the
Detox Center's budget, and the City of Greenville currently
contributes nothing. Further, Greenville County Council has reduced
the commission's funding level by 3 percent for fiscal year 2004 and
has rejected an appeal to help build a badly needed new detox
facility. Greenville County leaders clearly view substance abuse as a
low priority.

Communities in more progressive heartland states such as Missouri,
Ohio and Wisconsin have, in fact, recently increased alcohol and
tobacco taxes to support treatment programs.

Voters in Jackson County, Mo., recently approved a one-fourth cent
sales tax increase through March 2011. This tax has yielded between
$15 and $20 million annually since 1989. These funds make it possible
to hire and train police officers and to teach children about the
dangers of drugs, as well as provide meaningful and effective
treatment for substance abusers. With stronger law enforcement, the
Jackson County authorities have closed 7,200 drug houses to date,
removing an estimated $300 million in narcotics from the streets and
providing 4,300 treatment slots for those needing help.

The perception that Greenville County will not support new tax
increases is well founded based on recent history. Yet, in the Umbach
Study, 74 percent of Greenville County residents interviewed indicated
that they would support a tax on alcohol and tobacco products
earmarked to support substance abuse programs.

Reducing the hefty $503 million substance abuse bill should be an
immediate concern for Greenville County taxpayers. When abusers become
clean and sober, they become more productive workers, pay taxes, use
fewer government-subsidized services and generally lead responsible
lives, contributing their fair share to a productive economy. Taking
positive steps to reduce substance abuse makes sound economic sense.