As the City Councilor for Allston-Brighton, I have been working to combat substance abuse in my neighborhood as well as the entire city. Substance abuse is rampant in our neighborhoods. The problem is becoming so bad that the City of Boston announced an educational plan in November of 2003 to combat teen prescription drug abuse in Boston. The City of Boston received $125,000 from Purdue Pharma to implement a city-wide education program to try to stem the alarming rise in the number of youth who are abusing prescription drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that close to 3 million children in the United States between the ages of 12 and 17 admit to abusing prescription drugs.

When these youth can no longer obtain prescription drugs, they turn to illegal opiates because often, the illegal opiates are cheaper and easier to obtain than prescription drugs. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, Deputy Director of the Boston Health Commission stated, "Youth who are at risk for abusing prescription drugs are also at risk for a wide range of other unhealthy behaviors."

We must use all tools at our disposal to the combat substance abuse epidemic. Here are some of the facts:

• From 2001-2004, MA Bureau of Substance Abuse Services funding was cut by nearly 50%
• Massachusetts ranks among the top 5% of states for drug and alcohol use among adults and youth

• MA Bureau of Substance Abuse Services now has a strategic plan to build the continuum of care
• The MA state legislature has begun to put the plan into action
• The Massachusetts bureau of substance abuse services budget now surpasses $65 million-one third over the 2001 Budget
• Because treatment for oxycontin and other prescriptive drug addiction increased 950% in 10 years
• Because opioid related deaths increased 600% from 1990-2003
• Because treatment for oxycontin and other prescriptive drug addiction increased 950% in 10 years
• Because opioid related deaths increased 600% from 1990-2003

• Improved prescription monitoring
• Community, parent and teacher education
• Safer storage of prescription medication
• A statewide disposal program for unused pills
• Increased access to treatment
• Massachusetts now joins 48 states in the legal distribution of pharmaceutical syringes. the goal is to reduce the impact of hepatitis c and hiv-aids. aids action committee took the lead on this issue.
• 117,424 are seeking treatment but can not gain access, of whom 39,450 require specialized treatment.



• Treatment Works (1)
• Addiction treatment works; recovery is an investment. With treatment even hard-to-reach populations reduce their illegal drug use by 50%
.
• Addiction treatment reduces criminal activity by 80%.
• Addiction treatment increases employment and decreases homelessness, results in marked improved physical and mental health, and reduces risky sexual behaviors.
• Addiction treatment is ass effective for other illnesses: Diabetes, Hypertension, Asthma.
• Treatment Saves Lives And Money
• In 2004, ma division of health care finance & policy conducted a study of addiction treatment and parity
• The average premium increase due to substance abuse parity would be only 0.27% (under $10 per member annually)(2).
• Treatment is less expensive than alternatives, such as not treating or imprisonment. treatment costs an average $7000 annually; the untreated medical costs of substance abuse are $14,000 annually.
• Massachusetts would save $6 to $25 million annually under parity. (3) treatment is less expensive than alternatives, such as not treating or imprisonment. treatment costs on average $7000 annually; the untreated medical costs of substance abuse are $14,000 annually. massachusetts would save $6 to $25 million annually under parity. (4)

1. National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey for Massachusetts.


2. Information from CSAT ATR - 2004.


3. Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mandated Benefit Review, Review and Evaluation of Proposed Legislation Entitled: An Act to Provide Equitable Coverage for Substance Abuse, Senate Bill 872, provided the Joint Committee on Insurance.


4. The Lewin Group, Actuarial Assessment of MA Senate Bill. 872: "An Act to Provide Equitable Coverage for Substance Abuse", May 24, 2004.