Virginia spent $106 million on substance abuse services in 2006, but most state agencies failed to evaluate whether their programs worked and $18 million set aside for the programs went unspent, a legislative study found.
The state’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission determined that the majority of Virginia agencies that provide substance abuse services don’t evaluate the effectiveness of their treatment programs, despite being legally required to do so.
“While it is largely unknown whether Virginia prevention programs yield positive results, the allocation of existing resources could be improved with evaluations, greater state coordination and direction, and additional focus placed on ensuring the proper implementation of proven practices,” the report said.
Virginia’s state budget directs the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to transfer money from state-run alcohol stores to substance abuse programs, but Virginia spent only $55 million out of $72.6 million of those funds on substance abuse prevention in 2006.
“This discount suggests that nearly $18 million intended for substance abuse treatment is being used for other purposes,” the report said.
A spokesman for the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget, which distributes state funds, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Virginia General Assembly commissioned thestudy in 2007, partly because of concerns that the programs weren’t sufficiently available to substance abusers.
National studies have found that treatment programs can diminish the effect of substance abuse on government budgets.
Substance abuse cost Virginia’s state and local governments $613 million in 2006, mostly in public safety, according to the study.
The study found that of the programs that were evaluated, most people who completed treatment cost state and local governments less and were more successful finding jobs and staying out of jail than those who did not.
