Association for Behavioral Healthcare Statement on FY 2011 Budget

The Association for Behavioral Healthcare is pleased that the Legislature level-funded some of the most critical behavioral health services provided by the Commonwealth in the FY 2011 budget. In particular, the budget largely protects from cuts essential community-based mental health and substance use disorder treatment services.

The budget plan reflects a fiscally responsible approach to the unique circumstances surrounding the stalemate in Washington over the so-called FMAP reimbursement funds, which could result in an unanticipated $650 million state budget cut. Legislative leaders established a contingency fund that would allocate FMAP funds if and when they become available.

The Legislature also established a separate Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Fund, which will collect all proceeds from the alcohol sales tax and dedicate the funds for addiction treatment, prevention and recovery programs that benefit more than 100,000 people in Massachusetts. This marks a significant step forward that will establish a reliable funding source for important public health services.

ABH urges Governor Patrick to sign the budget passed by the Legislature and create the Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Fund.

Poll Shows 58% of Public Oppose Alcohol Tax Repeal

For Immediate Release Contact: Jim McManus
617-5230038
Jim@sloweymcmanus.com

Poll Shows 58% of Public Oppose Alcohol Tax Repeal
Hundreds Rally at State House to Support Dedicated Treatment Fund
Boston, MA -- June 8, 2010 – By a wide margin, Massachusetts voters oppose repealing the alcohol sales tax, according to a poll released today by the Campaign for Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, a group of more than 125 public health and behavioral health organizations from across the state that oppose the alcohol tax repeal.
The sales tax on alcohol retail sales is being challenged through a ballot initiative supported by package store owners in November that would repeal the tax.
“Massachusetts residents clearly see the importance of using the alcohol sales tax to support public health services for youths and families,” said Vic DiGravio, and Maryanne Frangules, Co-Chairs of the Campaign. “It is also clear that people understand that the state needs revenues, and there should be no special exemption from the sales tax for alcohol.”
DiGravio is president of the Association for Behavioral Healthcare. Frangules is executive director of Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery.
The poll results were released today at a State House press conference and rally to support creation of a dedicated fund for proceeds from the alcohol sales tax. In the budget for Fiscal Year 2011, the House and Senate created a Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund, which will dedicate alcohol tax proceeds to such services. The tax is expected to bring in $110 million in its first year.
More than 300 people gathered at the State House today to demonstrate support for the Fund and the services it funds. The supporters heard from Campaign organizers, Senator Steve Tolman (D-Brighton), a major proponent of the Fund in the Legislature, and individuals who are in recovery from alcohol addiction.
Robert L. Monahan, PhD., president of the Recovery Homes Collaborative, spoke at the press conference, along with Elizabeth Rodriquez of Methuen and a student from the Recovery High School in Boston, two consumers who receive services funded in part by the alcohol tax.

The opinion poll released today shows deep and broad opposition to repealing the tax. Sixty-eight percent of women and 49 percent of men said they opposed repeal of the alcohol sales tax. Six percent were undecided.
The poll surveyed the opinions of 450 Massachusetts voters from May 3-5. The margin of error is 4.5 percent. It was conducted by Anderson Opinion Research of Boston.
The poll asked voters: “If the election were held today, would you vote yes or no on a ballot question to remove the state sales tax on alcoholic beverages?”
“There’s strong support for the alcohol tax across the state,” said DiGravio and Frangules. “By using language designed to elicit voters’ attitude toward this specific tax, we were able to obtain an accurate picture of peoples’ attitudes toward the alcohol tax.”
Other findings:
· Democrats oppose the alcohol tax repeal by 72 percent to 21 percent;
· Republicans support the alcohol tax repeal 47 to 45 percent
· For the general sales tax ballot question, which would roll back the state sales tax from 6.25 to 32 percent, 55 support the rollback, and 38 percent are opposed. Six percent are undecided.
During the recent state budget debate, the Campaign supported creation of the dedicated Fund for alcohol tax proceeds. The Fund would become law when Governor Patrick signs the Fiscal Year 2011 budget.
“The Senate and the House of Representatives kept faith with the people of Massachusetts by establishing the Fund for the alcohol tax, to make sure proceeds go to public health and treatment programs,” said DiGravio and Frangules. “We urge the Governor to sign the Fund into law and create a stable funding source for these critical programs.”

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The Campaign for Addiction, Prevention Treatment and Recovery's Statement on Senate Ways and Means Committee Budget

May 19, 2010

In today's Ways & Means Committee budget, the State Senate demonstrated its commitment to preserving addiction prevention and treatment and services for more than 100,000 Massachusetts residents. Critical programs across the state, from youth intervention and residential treatment services to jail diversion and counseling programs, were funded at sufficient levels in the Senate spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year.

In addition, the Senate, like the House, created a separate Commonwealth Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Fund that will ensure proceeds from the retail tax on alcohol are dedicated to these services. We applaud Senate President Murray, Chairman Panagiotakos and the Committee for establishing the Fund and making clear their determination to protect alcohol tax revenues for worthwhile public health and safety services.

Until last year, alcohol sold in stores was exempt from the sales tax just like basic necessities such as food, clothing and prescription medications. The legislature rightly repealed that special tax break and used the proceeds to protect vital public health programs that promote treatment and recovery.

The alcohol retail sales tax, which will bring in $110 million in its first year, is a badly needed source of revenue that supports critically important programs. We appreciate the efforts of the Senate to preserve programs that have such a positive benefit for thousands of families across the state.

Taunton Gazette Guest Opinion: Alcohol tax helps save lives at prom season

GUEST OPINION: Alcohol tax helps save lives at prom season
By Vic DiGravio and Maryanne Frangules
May 13, 2010

Across Massachusetts, tens of thousands of high school juniors and seniors — including a couple hundred in Taunton tonight — are engaged in the time-honored traditions associated with the prom. Choosing dresses, renting tuxedos, washing cars, buying corsages — it's a rite of passage that provokes anxiety for everyone concerned. Especially parents.

Safety has always been a prime concern around prom season, because many teens associate prom with drinking — frequently binge drinking. And far too many, still, end up getting behind the wheel of a car after consuming alcohol.

Local school and law enforcement officials are reaching out to thwart drunk driving around prom season by an aggressive campaign of education and prevention. In Norfolk County, the Avon Coalition for Every Student released a survey showing that alcohol-use and binge drinking rates have dropped in recent years. While those numbers remain too high, the survey may help alleviate peer pressure by showing that not everyone drinks.

In Western Massachusetts, the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership, in collaboration with MADD Massachusetts, will launch the Prom Season Sticker Shock Campaign at area liquor stores.

The campaign consists of teams of young people, accompanied by an adult chaperone, placing stickers on multi-packs of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine coolers, etc.) and paper bags at participating package stores. The stickers read, “Hey You!! It is ILLEGAL to provide alcohol for people under 21!”

These and many other programs at the state and local level received a boost last year with passage of the alcohol sales tax at retail stores. The tax will bring in about $110 million this year — a drop in the bucket weighed against the billions of dollars in lost productivity, healthcare, counseling and law enforcement costs tied to alcohol and drug abuse.

The retail sales tax on alcohol funds services targeting underage drinkers such as the substance abuse hotline, youth intervention services, residential programs and recovery homes and driver education classes following OUI arrests.

For underage drinkers, alcohol’s toll is tragic. Recent federal statistics show that Massachusetts is among the highest of all states for past month’s alcohol use by underage drinkers — 32.1 to 40.5 percent of 12 to 20 year olds — and that 8.4 to 10.1 percent of those youth purchased the alcohol themselves.

Underage drinking remains a serious problem and requires constant vigilance by families, local and state officials. According to the
most recent data for Massachusetts students in grades 9-12:

• 46 percent had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more occasion in the past 30 days;

• 28 percent had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row (i.e. binge drinking) in the past 30 days;

• 5 percent had at least one drink of alcohol on school property on one or more of the past 30 days.

Despite the ongoing social, healthcare and law enforcement problems associated with addiction, the alcohol industry is pushing a
ballot question this fall to repeal the alcohol retail sales tax.

Those who have struggled with addiction understand that youths need all the help they can get to avoid destructive behaviors. We
need the resources to provide that help, and the alcohol retail sales tax is part of the solution.

Vic DiGravio and Maryanne Frangules co-chair the Campaign for Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, which seeks to retain the retail sales tax on alcohol.

GUEST OPINION: Alcohol tax helps save lives at prom season - Taunton, MA - The Taunton Gazette

GUEST OPINION: Alcohol tax helps save lives at prom season - Taunton, MA - The Taunton Gazette

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Mass. House Budget Debate Starts Monday April 26

As the House of Representatives begins debate on the budget, ABH asks that you contact your Representative(s) in support of ABH's priorities. The debate is expected to begin on Monday and end Thursday, April 29, so now is the time to take a few minutes to show your support.

Action Requested

Ask your Representative to oppose the following amendments:

-- Amendment 40, which would eliminate the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund. This fund is created by the House Ways and Means FY 2011 budget and is credited with sales tax revenue from the sales tax on alcohol.

-- Amendment 43, which would eliminate the sales tax on alcohol. The sales tax on alcohol is estimated to raise about $110 million to support substance abuse treatment and prevention. In addition, using taxes to raise prices on alcohol is among the most effective deterrents to drinking and underage binge drinking that researchers have discovered; it is better than law enforcement, media campaigns or school programs.

Ask your Representative to support the following amendments:

-- Amendment 604, to restore $3.2 million to the Department of Mental Health Adult Community Services account (line item 5046-000). $3.2 million would provide funding for the P.A.C.T. (Program for Assertive Community Treatment) teams in Metro Boston and Western Massachusetts Homeless Community Support/Emergency Psychiatric Services;

-- Amendment 447, Amendment 469, and Amendment 530 to restore funding for the human services salary reserve. The salary reserve would be funded at $28,000,000 and would allow for modest but essential salary increases for human service workers earning less than $40,000.

Log on to http://capwiz.com/mhsacm/home/ for more information.

Kudos!

Kudos to House Ways & Means Chairman Charles Murphy and the House Ways & Means Committee for proposing a separate Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund to dedicate proceeds from the alcohol sales tax to vital public health programs. It costs the state nothing, safeguards spending for alcohol and substance abuse treatment services, and defuses critics who say the state will spend the money elsewhere.

Nationally, only 10 percent of individuals in need of addiction services actually are in treatment. The alcohol sales tax addresses some of that gap by creating a funding source for new problems.

For the thousands of people in Massachusetts whose families have been affected by addiction, the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund is smart public policy and sound health policy.