Maine Gov. John Baldacci believes his state has the community-based program infrastructure needed to make the kind of progress in combating alcohol and drug abuse that it has seen in reducing tobacco use, the Bangor Daily News reported Aug. 20.

Baldacci made his comments in conjunction with a meeting among state officials and former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, chairman of a Join Together policy panel that created a blueprint that states can use to establish effective alcohol and drug policies.

Baldacci touted Maine's use of monies from the national tobacco settlement for a number of health-related programs, including $17 million set aside this year for smoking cessation and prevention initiatives.

"We have had a 50 percent reduction in smoking because of the programs we have funded," Baldacci said. "We know prevention efforts work."

Dukakis reinforced the Maine governor's comments by pointing out the need to reverse a trend in which about 70 percent of governmental efforts to reduce the impact of substances goes to enforcement rather than demand reduction. "We have the wrong priorities today," Dukakis said. "We have to deal with the demand, reduce the demand. It is so important to get these funds into education and prevention."

The Blueprint for the States policy panel report includes detailed recommendations to states in the areas of leadership, structure, resources, measurement/accountability, legislation, and sustained state focus.