The combined budget authority of HHS, Education, and VA was about $3.68 billion, or 83 percent of the total federal funding for substance abuse treatment and prevention activities for that year. 2.) Treatment services can include diagnostic assessment; detoxification; and medical, psychiatric, and psychological counseling. These activities include providing information and education that increase knowledge of drug abuse and alternative drug-free life styles, encouraging communities to implement responses to drug use, and drug testing. Combined expenditures rose from $1.3 billion to about $1.6 billion—about a $300 million increase. Conclusions

Federal, state, county, and local governments and the private sector all provide funding for substance abuse treatment and prevention activities. The latest and best data available show that (1) the federal government has been a major contributor of funds, providing more than $4 billion in fiscal year 1994; (2) state and local governments spent a little more than $1.5 billion in their 1994 fiscal years; and (3) private funding exceeded $1 billion in 1993. To obtain information on private sector funding, we contacted the Department of Health and Human Service’s (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and numerous other organizations. Federal Budget Authority for Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Activities, Fiscal Years 1995-97

Administration for Children and Families Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health Resources and Services Administration Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) (continued)

Federal Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Program Funding and Descriptions

This appendix provides information on the substance abuse treatment and prevention activities of various federal agencies. 6, 1996).
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the financial support provided for substance abuse and treatment activities by federal, state, and local governments and the private sector.

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) federal funding for substance abuse treatment and prevention activities increased from $2.8 billion in fiscal year (FY) 1990 to $4.4 billion in FY 1994; (2) the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Veterans Affairs provided 83 percent of total federal funding for treatment and prevention activities for FY 1994; (3) numerous programs in 16 federal agencies covered a broad range of treatment and prevention services and often targeted specific populations; (4) treatment services included diagnostic assessment, detoxification, and counseling, while prevention activities usually included providing information and education about alternatives to and consequences of alcohol abuse and illicit drug use; (5) state, county, and local governments' total expenditures for treatment and prevention activities increased from about $1.3 billion in FY 1990 to about $1.6 billion in FY 1994; and (6) although data on private-sector funding for substance abuse treatment are very limited, available sources indicate funding of more than $1 billion in 1993.