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The largest grant will be used to build a statewide infrastructure to coordinate all of Arizona's substance-abuse prevention services. It will also fund new community-based prevention activities and programs for Arizona's highest risk youth and families, with special focus on those involved with Child Protective Services and underage drinking. The second grant will focus on juveniles and adults in the corrections and probation systems to ensure they re-enter our communities clean and sober. The third grant targets children by expanding Arizona's mental health training as we reform the state's behavioral health system. Early intervention strategies that focus on youth are especially critical because the age of a person's first alcohol use has a tremendous effect on his/her future health. The younger the person begins using alcohol, the greater the likelihood he/she will abuse alcohol later in life. Underage drinking results in increased violent crimes, accidental injury, neighborhood vandalism, noise disturbance and motor vehicle collisions, all of which require intervention by law enforcement. Alcohol abuse during adulthood leads to chronic health problems, including cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis of the liver, cancer and depression. The effects of substance abuse on our communities are very real. A Columbia University study in 1998 revealed substance abuse cost Arizona taxpayers nearly $1 billion annually in justice, health, education, and public welfare services. That cost is even higher today. But the greater cost is in lost lives. Alcohol is a factor in 26 percent of fatal crashes in Arizona. In Pima County, over the past 17 months eight teenagers have died in alcohol-related car crashes. Last year, 470 people statewide were killed in alcohol-related crashes. Nationwide, we know that more teenagers die in alcohol-related car accidents than by any other cause. Since the beginning of my administration, my office has focused on bringing these numbers down. The SAMHSA grants make this possible by investing in prevention and intervention services, so Arizona can save money and, most importantly, save lives and families. I'd like to recognize and thank the Division for Substance Abuse Policy in my Office of Children, Youth and Families, and SAMHSA, for enabling Arizona to help those who need it most. Return To Latest News |
