OF2-05/28/09 7:25 AM
GETTING OUR MONEY'S WORTH IN TREATING SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
The Osgood File. I'm Charles Osgood.
A new report says the real cost of substance abuse and addiction each year to federal, state, and local governments is close to a half a trillion dollars --- 11 percent of all the public money that's spent on everything. But the report says they're spending that money all wrong.
SOT - Joseph Califano
"Only two cents of every one of those dollars is spent to prevent and treat substance abuse. It is the worst misallocation of public funds we have in the United States today." (:13)
Joseph Califano, founder of CASA: the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, which issued the new report. Where does the rest of the money go?
SOT - Joseph Califano
"96 cents of every one of those dollars is spent to 'shovel up' the wreckage of substance abuse and addiction..." (:07)
Joe Califano says addiction is a disease and should be treated as such.
SOT - Joseph Califano
"The issue is addiction, not any particular substance. We know now from brain imaging that nicotine, tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin all affect dopamine levels --- what gives you pleasure --- in the brain in similar ways." (:15)
And each affects the costs to government of health care, violence, crime, poverty, and homelessness.
SOT - Joseph Califano
"In terms of health care costs, tobacco is the biggest problem. In terms of crime, alcohol is the biggest problem. In terms of violence, alcohol is the biggest problem. And in terms of the threat to our youth, of course --- we worry most about them getting involved in illegal drugs and abusing prescription drugs." (:19)
Califano --- who has been advisor to Presidents and held Cabinet posts --- is not an advisor to President Obama. If he were?
SOT - Joseph Califano
"I would say, 'Mr. President --- focus a major public health campaign on youth.' Because a child who gets through age 21 without smoking, without using illegal drugs, without abusing alcohol is virtually certain never to do so." (:17)
The Osgood File. Charles Osgood on the CBS Radio Network.
The Osgood File. May 28th, 2009. |
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