CUTTING DRUG PROGRAMS ENDANGERS NEIGHBORHOODS

Three weeks ago, there were two protest marches in Center City - one was a
march against the war in Iraq, the other was a rally protesting state
budget cuts that threaten to severely hamper the local war on drugs.

Although the second demonstration was led by Philadelphia Police
Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson and District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham,
the protest about the war overseas got more news media attention.

More than 2,000 rehabilitation workers and recovering addicts rallied on
March 27 against against cuts in state funds for drug and alcohol treatment
for the uninsured, an integral part of the drug war. While Gov. Rendell's
budget includes more than $100 million in state and federal funds for
substance-abuse treatment, it will no longer cover the expenses of
thousands of Pennsylvanians who are uninsured and ineligible for medical
assistance.

That cut represents a more imminent threat to this city's health and safety
than any feared act of terror by foreigners.

Providers say that 70,000 people around the state receive some form of drug
treatment. If the state does not restore some of the funding, it could
drastically affect the drug and alcohol treatment of 25,000 individuals and
their families.

Announcement of the cuts by Rendell has spurred an outpouring of responses
from drug treatment providers and advocates in the city and region. Since
the announcement of the state cuts, I have received dozens of calls from
providers who are in a state of panic.

"We have come to expect some reduction in funding, but what was proposed by
the governor has been an elimination of some programs," said Michael Harle,
president and executive director of the Gaudenzia rehabilitation centers.

Harle and Pat Palmer, who heads Wedge Medical Center, say Philadelphia will
lose $40 million for treatment of 5,000 people by July 1 unless the
governor or the state legislature restores the funding.

Many addicts affected by the cuts will be left homeless and out into the
streets. Those under court order to be in treatment could end up in jail.

Currently, persons sent to the recently established city drug court who are
not charged with a violent crime or are first-time offenders are sent to
drug treatment centers rather than prison. If their treatment is
successful, they can avoid jail or prison time.

Municipal Court President Judge Louis J. Presenza, who administers the
special drug court, says the state's budget cuts could gut that program.

Both the district attorney and the police commissioner say the cuts in drug
treatment would likely cause an increase in crime, with addicts unable to
get treatment resorting to other criminal activity to fund their habits.
Abraham and Johnson said that would affect the quality of life of citizens
in neighborhoods throughout the city.

Johnson said his Safe Streets initiative might be threatened by the loss of
drug treatment opportunities. And the already overcrowded prisons and jails
across the state would become even more overcrowded.

In the long run, the budget cuts may prove more costly to taxpayers than
the treatment programs they will lose.

Gov. Rendell inherited a major fiscal deficit when he took office in
January. The budget cuts are a result of the massive shortfall. But he
shouldn't target drug treatment.

On Tuesday, the State House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on
the cuts beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the College of Osteopathic Medicine,
4170 City Avenue. The hearing is the second in a series of statewide budget
hearings.

Those affected by the cuts as well as anyone interested in seeing funding
for drug treatnment restored ought to be there.