STATE BUDGET MIGHT AX FUNDING TO TREAT ALCOHOL, DRUG ADDICTIONS

HARRISBURG - Thousands of western Pennsylvania residents with drug and
alcohol addictions might not get the help they need because of budget cuts
to rehabilitation programs proposed by Gov. Ed Rendell.

In his first state budget presented Tuesday and approved by the House on
Thursday, Rendell called for eliminating two drug and alcohol programs under
the Department of Public Welfare, saving $66 million. If the cuts are passed
by the General Assembly, Allegheny County will lose about $7.9 million,
Beaver County will lose about $1 million, Fayette County will lose about
$800,000, Greene County will lose about $200,000 and Washington County will
lose about $1 million.

"Suffering from this will be enormous," predicted Stephen Roman, a vice
president at Gateway Rehabilitation Center, the oldest and largest treatment
center in western Pennsylvania. "People will die from this, people will lose
jobs - families will be experiencing all kinds of stress."

The state Department of Public Welfare programs provide drug and alcohol
treatment and mental health services for people between ages 22 to 64 who do
not qualify for Medicaid or might have lost their Medicaid coverage.
Advocates say the programs help people in dire need, including pregnant,
addicted women, women with children, the working poor, children who need
long-term rehabilitation and criminals who are supposed to return to society
through drug- and alcohol- treatment programs.

The cuts mean that statewide, about 30,000 people receiving drug and alcohol
and mental health services through two state programs will no longer receive
those services, welfare department spokesman Jay Pagni said. The programs
were targeted because they are among a few in the department's budget that
don't receive matching federal dollars, he said. Cutting programs that do
get federal money would result in double the loss.

"It was one of the most difficult cuts we had to make in the department;
however, this population is not alone in seeing funding either reduced or
eliminated," Pagni said. "The state needs to live within its means."

Locally, "thousands of people" might not be able to get help, if the funds
aren't restored, Roman said. Gateway, which is based in Center Township and
has nearly 25 locations in the region, treats about 7,000 patients per year,
2,500 of whom receive state assistance.

"Some of these line items for treatment were completely zeroed out, and I
don't understand why (Rendell) singled out these people," said state Rep.
Gene DiGirolamo, a longtime advocate for increased rehab spending.

The Bucks County Republican voted Thursday to support the budget, but like
many lawmakers, he hopes to revisit the issue and add funds later on.

If the cuts remain, Roman said the state could end up paying more in the
long run.

"You'll end up paying for patients one way or other," he said. "If they
don't come to us, they'll end up in the emergency room or jail or causing
trouble in another way. It's so much better and so much easier to provide
treatment."