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For every $1 states spend dollar sign on substance misuse and addiction, 94 cents go to shovel up the consequences instead of for treatment and prevention. TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS

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Study Slams Lack of Evaluation in Virginia's Addiction Treatment and Prevention Systems
June 13, 2008

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News Summary

A report from the Virginia legislature said that there has been little evaluation of the effectiveness of the state's $106 million investment in addiction treatment and prevention in 2006, even though programs are supposed to be legally bound to demonstrate their outcomes.

The National Examiner reported June 12 that the report from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission also found that $18 million appropriated for addiction services in 2006 never got spent.

"While it is largely unknown whether Virginia prevention programs yield positive results, the allocation of existing resources could be improved with evaluations, greater state coordination and direction, and additional focus placed on ensuring the proper implementation of proven practices," the report said.

The study was commissioned in response to concerns that services were not readily available to many Virginia residents with addiction problems.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by James Cooper on 17 Jun 08 07:48 AM EDT
I feel that the addiction services for the state of Virginia should be held accountable which it seems they haven't. With such a great need for addiction services, this is not acceptable. Virginia needs to bring in people that can and will operate their addiction services in an accountable and transparent manner. Virginia, please take action to straighten this out. Individuals who are suffering needs action, not talk. It will also save money for the state if Prevention services are in place.

Posted by Travis wimmer on 10 Nov 09 12:47 PM EST
When you have a system that lets alcohol, which is a major contributor to problems of jails, and the number 3 killer of people from the cancer from it! Also cigarettes and it being the number 2 killer of people in America from it that helps cpipple our healthcare system and somehow continues to be legal. Also the pharmaceutical industry thats pumping chemicals into every American they can, and getting rich while all along we die from them, over medicate, and sale the drugs on the black market and in return creating a bigger problem than alcohol and cigarettes combined. So how is Marijuana worse than these to be considered illegal? It's not, its all a govt lie to make sure the pharmecutical companies flurish ( marijuana can take over up to 20% of pharmaeucital drugs with next to no side effects just with research we have now! That would hurt them alot!) It would also hurt the alcohol and cigarette companies cause it would be more socially accepted and more people would go to smoking a joint versus a cig. and more times than not over a beer! last but certainly not least is the cotton and textile industry ( Hemp is stronger, lasts longer, doesn't mold or deteriate, hemp can be reproduced quickly unlike cutting down trees wich takes a 100 years or so to grow for paper products, ect! it can be used as fuel, medicine, clothing, paper products, ect...) they all have lobbyist in Washington to rally for laws of prohibition to keep it illegal so their product which are un natural continue to deteriate us slowly.................

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