POSITION PAPER

Position Paper

Abstract

This paper will provide information on efforts by the Government of U.S. in order to prevent the use of substance abuse. The paper will present the arguments based on tax spending on the control of substance abuse and increasing the use of Diversion programs. The argument presented in the paper will consider both the aspects, in favor and against the spending of tax dollars on the control of substance abuse.

Table of Contents

Introduction4

Discussion5

Burden on States6

Taxation7

Public Payers7

Therapeutic Communities8

Arguments for the Government's allocation of budget9

Consideration11

Conclusion12

References13

Position Paper

Introduction

It has been a long considerable debate on the allocation of funds for the substance abuse. Changes have been made throughout the years in order to provide comfortable access to healthy life in U.S. The major problem is the rising of taxes, which is creating problems for the public. The paper has briefly discussed the arguments based on the consideration for the government, whether the spending should be done more or it should be minimized for the different purposes.

Obama administration demanded about $ 10.7 billion in the support of programs for the substance abuse and increase of control and prevention programs, which includes an increase of 1 percent for treatment and increase of 15 percent for prevention. This increase however, resulted in arguments and debates based on different assumptions on the substance abuse programs (www.hsdl.org).

The President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 National Drug Control Budget desires $15.5 billion to decrease drug use and it's after affects in the United States. This represents add of $521.1 million (3.5 percent) over the FY 2010 enacted level of $15.0 billion. These resources are classified in five major purposes (www.hsdl.org).

Substance Abuse Treatment

Substance Abuse Prevention

Interdiction

International Support

Domestic Law Enforcement

Figure 1 shows the detail funding of Government by function

National Drug Control Funding by Function (Funding in Millions)

Discussion

Some argue that the federal government is investing huge amounts in the ban drug and law enforcement, while in proportion of drug treatment and education programs are cents. A myth that follows is that the control policy of drugs is "half the world to arrest" to exit problem, thereby filling the prisons with petty offenders of laws against the drug. President's request in its budget against drugs for 2011 is to invest a large portion on the treatment and prevention, including new funds to support the President's commitment to increase the spending on treatment. The budget divides the 55 percent between law enforcement, programs international intelligence activities drug related, and activities interdiction. Proponents of legalization ignore these data and minimize the damage drug users who are themselves, family and community. Instead, it focus on the alleged harm that the government cause the individual and the community, especially by means of law enforcement. However, the drug costs lies not only on the consumer, but overwhelmingly on spouses, parents, society and the taxpayer (Miller, 2004).

Burden on States

Since both private and public insurers do not cover substance abuse treatment programs, states are left to fill in the gaps. Local and State governments are required to fund a ...