Alabama Launches State Commission for the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse

In December 2004, Alabama Governor Bob Riley launched the Alabama Commission for the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse, according to a state press release.

"Our state spends over $1 billion a year on substance abuse and the destruction it causes in our communities. We cannot continue to spend that kind of money without seeing real change," said Governor Riley. "This new Commission gives us the opportunity to realize strong returns on the investment we make to deal with this enormous issue and the critical health dangers that come with it.

All state agencies that address issues related to substance use will participate in the commission's efforts to provide treatment and prevention more efficiently and successfully. The commission's formation grew out of work by the state's Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MH/MR) with Resources for Recovery, a national grant program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Resources for Recovery awarded a $200,000 grant to the MH/MR department to develop strategies that expand alcohol and drug use treatment capacity through more effective use of existing state expenditures.

Kent Hunt, associate commissioner for substance abuse services in the Department of MH/MR, will chair the multi-agency commission. Alabama state departments and offices designated to serve on the Commission include the office of the state attorney general and the departments of corrections, children affairs, rehabilitation, corrections, public health, education, and others.

(12/17/2004)