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State treatment and prevention organizations are not the only agencies whose expenses and activities are driven by the needs of individuals with substance use disorders. Agencies responsible for criminal justice, child welfare, public health, mental health, and education are all affected by these problems. A Join Together panel led by former Governor Mike Dukakis (D. Massachusetts) and State Representative Pat George (R. Kansas) has created a Blueprint that state governments need to follow to develop effective alcohol and drug policies that will save lives, restore families and reduce crime. READ MORE >
 Learn more about the panel's six recommendations. Click on the recommendation to learn more including examples of what other states have done.
- Leadership: Governors, legislative leaders and chief judges need to provide personal, continuous leadership for a statewide strategy to prevent and address alcohol and drug problems. More >
- Structure: Every state should have a strategy that encompasses all the agencies affected by alcohol and drug problems. More >
- Resources: States can generate two key resources needed to improve alcohol and drug services: money and skilled practitioners. More >
- Measurement and Accountability: States should hold agencies and contracted providers accountable for meeting identified outcome measures: they should reward those that meet or exceed outcome targets and penalize those that consistently fail. More >
- Legislation: States should review and update the legislation that controls their alcohol and drug policies including authorization for prevention and treatment agencies and alcohol control boards. More >
- Sustain State Focus and Attention: State advisory councils should be created or revived with enough staff and authority to hold elected officials accountable for providing needed leadership. More >
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