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Show 24 Treat-t men Centers b:: FACT BOOK-1972 • Drug abuse was a national emergency long before mid-1971 when he issued his report to Congress, but President Nixon refused to spend funds appropriated by Congress for numerous drug abuse programs. In 1970, Congress passed the Community Mental Health Centers Amendments of 1970 (PL 91-211) and expanded existing programs under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (PL 91-513) for construction and leasing of community drug treatment centers. The latter bill authorized $40 million in FY 71 and $60 million in FY 72. In May of 1971, the Administration reported that no money would be spent in FY 71 on construction or leasing of community drug treatment facilities, and Staffing :::;: InItiation developm:: grants no spending was planned for FY 72.27 Instead of building or leasing such facilities, the Administration supposedly was concentrating on helping to staff existing centers. However, under questioning by Senator Harold E. Hughes (D Iowa) on May 7,1972, Administration spokesmen admitted that only $4.9 million had been spent under the staffing program, and no new funds were to be expended for 1972.28 • • The community mental health center amendments also author- ized initiation and development grants to local public or nonprofit agencies for projects to plan and develop treatment services for a area, not to exceed $50,000 per grant. Dr. Bertram S. Brown, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health admitted to given Senator Hughes that there were plans to fund only four of these centers in 1971 despite the presence of 11 pending grant applications for $524,000. • The Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act authorized $5 a broad range of drug abuse service projects for the million for drug-dependent persons. The Nixon Administration opposed the authorization, saying it was not neces sary. The Administration did finally finance 15 projects with the $5 treatment and rehabilitation of but, despite the existence of $26.5 million in pend ing applications, planned to spend no more money in 1972 on these million in funds, programs. Nixon • llnally 17, 1971, President Nixon requested a substantial inaI most all drug abuse programs, but not beentire fiscal year had passed without adequate spending in On June • acts crease m fore this an area. fundimg f or |
