SOFTEN IMPACT OF FUNDING CUTS

If there were valid reasons to veto $1 million in state funding to
three South Florida methadone clinics, Gov. Jeb Bush didn't give one
when he decided to strike the appropriation from the Florida
Department of Health's budget.

Bush's vetoed the funding measure because he considered it to be
"outside the scope of the Department of Health's services." Try
telling that to a substance abuser whose life may depend upon a daily
dose of methadone. Try selling that line to a community coping with a
high rate of AIDS and HIV infection. Try explaining that rationale to
Florida's drug czar, who insists more drug-treatment programs are
needed to curb the spurt of heroin abuse.

Beginning next month, 313 people addicted to opiates at the West Palm
Beach Treatment Center, the Pompano Treatment Center and the Broward
Treatment Center in Hollywood will have to pay the $11 a day for
methadone treatment. Unfortunately, some of these patients can't
afford the payments.

The concerns are many. Withdrawal from methadone may cause individuals
to return to street crime to pay for illegal drugs, particularly
heroin. The abuse of this drug is already on the rise in Broward and
Palm Beach counties, and the methadone funding cuts could increase its
use.

In addition, 60 of the patients are infected with HIV. This prompts
worries that some may share needles if they return to illicit drugs.
The risks are enormous and so are the potential health costs to the
state.

State health officials say the funding was put in jeopardy two years
ago when the appropriation was moved to the Health Department from the
Florida Department of Children & Families, where the money wasn't
subject to a veto by the governor.

State health officials have promised to find a way to soften the
impact of the funding cuts. They need to do precisely that to keep
this important program functioning.