Ask Dr. Bill
"Five ways to reduce substance abuse"

Dear Readers:
I would like to share some material which I have received over the internet from an oganization for which I hold in high regard. It has been a steady source of information, some of which I have shared with you in these columns. The organization is called "Join Together." This is a project of the Boston University School of Public Health and is "designed to be a national resource for communities, working to reduce substance abuse and gun violence." For those who have access to the internet, you can reach their website at www.jointogether.com Join Together recently convened a national expert panel on substance abuse policy. The panel was asked to examine research spanning several years and distill out the top policy priorities which hold the most promise for reducing substance abuse nationwide. After extensive study, the panel named five crucial policies, that would, if implemented, significantly reduce the harm caused by substance abuse in our communities:

"1. Compel substance abuse treatment for criminal offenders....Treatment of substance abuse must be an integral part of the criminal justice system. Every substance abuser who passes through the system must be compelled to undergo programs of treatment and rehabilitation.

"2. Ensure that every person who has an addiction gets
treatment....Treatment is the most cost-effective method to reduce drug abuse and related crime; for this reason, we must ensure that every substance abuser receives treatment.

"3. Make substance prevention an urgent priority in every community....All young people are at risk of becoming substance abusers. Therefore, we must enact an urgent agenda of prevention including strengthened enforcement of underage alcohol, illicit drugs and tobacco laws; targeting of higher-risk youth; and comprehensive substance abuse education.

"4. Increase taxes on alcohol and tobacco....Governments should significantly increase taxes on the sale and use of alcohol and tobacco products, with revenues earmarked for substance abuse treatment and prevention.

"5. Require broadcasters who air alcohol advertising to provide equal time for ads portraying the negative effects of drinking..... Broadcasters who air alcohol advertising should be required to provide equal air time for advertisements portraying the negative effects of drinking. Other media should voluntarily provide equal space for such counter-advertising." I agree with the opinion of Join Together that these policies can work-but only if the voters (that means you!) put enough pressure on our elected representatives to introduce and vote to pass the appropriate legislation. The present political atmosphere and the power of "soft" money provided to members of both major parties by the alcohol and tobacco industries each year makes the liklihood of passage of quite dim. I'm sure these five prioities will be looked upon by some as being "radically liberal,"... just adding on unecessary regulations and taxes. Well, as I reported in my column on May 17th: The present prioities are simply NOT WORKING. Substance abuse in the U.S. "remains high despite an increase in federal spending [to control the problem]. Over the last three years, U.S. spending in the so-called "war" on drugs has increased from $13 billion a year to $18 billion. Of all the money spent in the United States each year to reduce substance abuse, 78 percent goes to enforce laws, provide punishment, or to control drug trade. Only 22 percent is spent on prevention and treatment." However, I do urge my readers not to dispair....talk up these priorities with your friends and neighbors. Keep up the pressure on your elected officials to support them. Develop a plan for putting them into effect and see them through. Reducing demand is possible.