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