The addiction support organization Parent to Parent today launched an initiative to increase the state's alcohol tax to help pay for more addiction treatment.

The mothers and fathers of Parent to Parent, some of whom saw their teenage children die of addiction after being denied appropriate treatment, introduced their "Just a Nickel a Gallon" campaign at the State House in Trenton, pressing lawmakers to increase the alcohol tax by five cents a gallon. As a show of their resolve, the parents brought with them jugs filled with nickels they collected and have set up a website, www.justanickel.org.  

"Until our elected officials are willing to show the political courage required to pass an alcohol tax increase, we will pass the hat – or in this case, a gallon jug – to try to ensure the state has the capacity to treat those with an addiction to alcohol or drugs," said Kathleen Dobbs, one of Parent to Parent's founding members.

Dobbs noted that polling shows that two in three New Jerseyans support an increase in the alcohol tax provided the new revenue is dedicated to addiction treatment and prevention programs.   

The long-term goal of the Just a Nickel a Gallon campaign is to spur New Jersey's lawmakers to increase the state's excise tax on alcohol to fund more treatment for addiction. An increase of a nickel a gallon would generate approximately $10 million, which would translate into care for 3,800 residents.

In the short-term the campaign's aim is to raise money – a nickel at a time - for addicted children who otherwise would not be able to be treated for their addiction.

"Legislators from both parties and with very different viewpoints have spoken with one voice about the need for expanding treatment for addiction," Dobbs said. "Yet, they have not taken action on this need, so we have." The group has developed a tool kit that will enable parents and organizations from across the state to begin collections of their own and assist them in appealing to lawmakers to address the state's addiction treatment shortfall.

In addition to providing materials such as door hangers and jugs for collecting nickels, the statewide campaign gives instruction on identifying one's representatives in the State House and on how to build a constituency to join in this effort. Email communications will update the members of the campaign on pending legislation and the appropriate actions for them to take. 

Members of Parent to Parent noted that New Jersey's alcohol tax has been stagnant since 1992. Over that time, alcohol revenues have increased from $86.5 million to over $99 million.