Federal Money For Drug Rehabilitation, Prevention May Come To States

The United States Drug Czar says more money for drug treatment programs may soon be available to states.Office of National Drug Control Policy director Gil Kerlikowske is visiting Kentucky this week to tour various treatment centers and to talk with law enforcement officials. He says it's likely the federal government will allocate more money toward the most effective strategies for fighting drugs."The president has asked for additional money in two different fiscal years—as you know, we're still going through the 2011 budget—for additional money over what was enacted in 2010 for treatment for drug problems and also for prevention programs that work around the drug issues," he says.Kerlikowske says prevention programs in particular are the best use of federal anti-drug funds. He made his comments at the VA hospital in Louisville, after speaking with veterans who had recently recovered from addictions to pain medication