Wednesday, January 22, 2003

SAMHSA Takes First Step Toward Reshaping Addiction Block Grant
January 10 article at Join Together - "For years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has been talking about pushing states to be more accountable for how they spend federal block-grant funds. In late December, absent much fanfare, SAMHSA finally unveiled its proposal for transforming the addiction and mental-health block grants into more demanding -- yet more flexible -- Performance Partnership grants. The proposal provides a rudimentary start to the kind of system that many in Congress would like to see -- in which states can determine their own needs, but in turn are expected to meet performance goals identified in partnership with the federal goverment."  
  

Groups seek 50% alcohol tax hike (Indiana)
Indianapolis Star story - "Health and safety advocates want to increase taxes on every can of beer, glass of wine and bottle of booze sold by 50 percent to raise more money for alcohol rehab programs and efforts to curb underage drinking."