By Richard Craver | Journal Reporter

Published: April 22, 2010

Even as the state braces for another tight budget year, Gov. Bev Perdue and legislators appear ready to stitch up one area of recent cuts deemed too deep and painful.

In the governor’s proposed $19.1 billion budget, released Tuesday, she is recommending restoring $40 million for community mental-health programs that was eliminated last year.

The proposal also includes $12 million for the state to buy more local private-hospital beds for mental-health patients who require short-term care.  Read More

04-09-2010

Raleigh, N — The Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse services has recently released a preliminary version of their Legislative report which summarizes gaps in the system and service priorities. Member organizations of the Coalition, through their involvement in three other coalitions (The Substance Abuse Federation, The Developmental Disability Consortium, and The Coalition for Persons Disabled by Mental Illness) were asked to contribute their perspective on gaps and priorities in the mental health developmental disability and substance abuse service system in North Carolina. The report finds numerous needs for additional services and supports for people in our state.  Read More

HHS Appropriations members heard from NC DHHS about the budget reductions DHHS proposed to the Governor to meet potential 3%, 5% and 7% cuts. A number of the proposals call for increased county cost sharing, some replacement of state funds with fees, Federal funds, or receipts, the elimination of some optional services for adults under Medicaid, and additional program cuts.

Please note that these are PROPOSED cuts for 2010-2011. Approps members expressed concern for the cuts and/or elimination of health services, among other comments. Sec Cansler noted that in the wake of current cuts and changes that additional cuts will impact people being served, including health care which makes up a significant portion of the HHS budget and said he was trying to preserve MH/DD/SA services in the wake of extensive cuts last year and in the current year.

Dear Editor,

April is recognized as Alcohol Awareness Month, and our governor has signed a statewide proclamation of acknowledgment.

As a prevention advocate, I think this month is an excellent time to think about the responsible use of alcohol. This is not about abstinence or prohibition.

As the media coordinator for the Onslow County Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force, it is of interest to me how many stories are reported about famous actors and sports players who are arrested for driving under the influence and how many local, everyday people are killed by drunk drivers.

It is for these very reasons that privatizing liquor sales in North Carolina should not happen. I am all for the free market of our capitalist society, but it is important that our current government regulations remain intact, with a better system of checks and balances. One of the problems with not having our state control the distribution of alcohol is that it opens up the market to an endless number of outlets able to sell liquor. With an increase in the number of retail outlets, the number of alcohol-related incidents rise — crime, abuse, car crashes, underage drinking, etc.

So, during the month of April, think about the next time you drive your car to work or a family outing. In every eighth car you pass on the highway — someone has been drinking. After 10 p.m., in every third car you pass — someone has been drinking. Are you OK with this number increasing?

If anyone would like more information, please feel free to call me at (252) 665-3424 or e-mail tanya@ccsap.org.

The Onslow County Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force is part of a regional collaboration — the Coastal Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention — that serves Carteret, Craven, Jones, Onslow and Pamlico counties, focusing on preventing underage drinking, reducing the incidents of alcohol-related car crashes, and the illegal use of prescription drugs by youth and adults.

Tanya P. Roberts

New Bern

This letter to the editor appeared in the Jacksonville Daily News.  To link to this story click here: http://www.jdnews.com/articles/alcohol-77041-number-liquor.html

Dear Providers,

As some of you may know, Governor Perdue has commissioned a legislative study committee to review the current state Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) system.  One of the considerations of this committee is whether or not the ABC system should be privatized.

On THURSDAY, APRIL 8th at 2pm, the committee is holding a hearing and will allow public comment.  You must sign up AHEAD to speak and be added to the agenda.  To sign-up CLICK HERE.

ABC Board Legislative Study Committee Public Hearing

Date: Thursday, April 8th

Time: 2pm

Location: Room 643, Legislative Office Building. (300 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh) 

To sign -up to speak at the hearing, CLICK HERE.

For more information about the Committee, please visit the website here: http://www.ncleg.net/documentsites/committees/jscabc/Homepage/index.html

*** The time scheduled for the Public Comments on April 8th has closed.  If the Chair finds there is additional time, others wishing to make Public Comments may have the opportunity, please continue to send in your Request Forms.***

Winston-Salem Journal

March 31, 2010

GREENSBORO – Doing more with less may be a necessary economic strategy these days.

But to a group of advocates and providers of behavioral-health care yesterday, the combination of continuing cuts in financing and the inability to get the attention of their elected officials has them wondering how much more they, clients and family members can bear.  ”When people are in crisis, they don’t need to know about our increased case loads and limited services,” said Melissa Horton, a case manager for a local provider of developmental-disability services. “They need the best help we can provide them.” Instead, we have to say to them, ‘You’re out of hours, good luck with that,’ or do we work for free?” Read More

Raleigh, N.C.– People who are unemployed have an increased risk of substance abuse and addiction. As a result, a critical component of addiction treatment is to improve the life skills that help people maintain employment and attain economic self-sufficiency. At therapeutic communities such as TROSA in Durham and FIRST at Blue Ridge, Inc. in Buncombe County, the development of work skills are part of their recovery programs.  Read More

The Coalition has created a Legislative Handbook to help the public realize their advocate potential.  Advocating for yourself or others with mental illness, a developmental disability or addictive disease can be quick, easy and extremely rewarding.  The Coalition’s Legislative Handbook teaches simple techniques for writing letters, speaking and meeting with legislators.  In addition the Handbook provides a brief overview of the current state of the MHDDSA system, gives a basic Civics 101 training, and supplies a list of terms which the public may not be accustomed. Start Advocating TODAY

3.21.10

By CBS News Capitol Hill Producers Jill Jackson and John Nolen

(The Health Care Reform Bill passed the House on 3.21.2010)

Cost:

• $940 billion over ten years.

Deficit:

• Would reduce the deficit by $143 billion over the first ten years. That is an updated CBO estimate. Their first preliminary estimate said it would reduce the deficit by $130 billion over ten years. Would reduce the deficit by $1.2 billion dollars in the second ten years.  Read More

3.18.10

RALEIGH – Outside a renovated red brick schoolhouse in one of Raleigh’s toughest neighborhoods, patients with severe and persistent mental illness quietly come and go.

For more than two decades, the unassuming Inner-City Mental Health clinic has doggedly served about 150 people, most of whom live in the surrounding area.

It is, by every measure, a successful and well-run clinic. Yet the county’s proposed budget for next year would shutter it for good.

The county is trying to patch a $12 million to $18 million spending gap. County Manager David Cooke has asked every department to identify 7 percent in savings. That’s all fine and good.

But would closing the Inner City clinic save money in the end?

Just the opposite.

For the people who rely on the clinic week in, week out, month in, month out, this would be like setting fire to a safety net.

Read more