Narcotics research, rehabilitation, and treatment. Hearings, Ninety ...

J'606[Exhibit No. 23Prepared Statement of Hon. Milton J. Shapp, Governor, CommonwealthOF PennsylvaniaThe drug traflSc in this nation is the number one social issue of our time.It could destroy us.But it could also be contained, controlled and, finally, defeated by enlightenedGovernment action.It is unfortunate that there has been no concerted, nationwide effort todeal with the drug problem, mobilizing the coordinated resources of national,State and local government.Recent announcements by the administration here in Washington, and othernational sources, are encouraging.But we have never fought a battle like this before.We do not have the knowledge we need.We don't have all the tools and we don't by any means, have the money.For example, the $15.'5 million sought by the Nixon Administration is woefullyinadequate to meet the need.New York state alone spends $188 million annually.In Pennsylvania we have estimated our statewide needs at a minimum of$4."> million. Facing realistic budget requirements, we have appropriated $20million for the next fiscal year. This amount will but permit us to inauguratea reasonable program.But if such amounts are needed in New York and Pennsylvania, it is obviousthat much more than the $155 million allocated by President Nixon will beneeded nationwide if we are to really come to grips with this problem.Gentlemen, you must make up your minds to wage total war on the drugtraffic in America.That war will call for an enormous commitment of our knowledge and ourresources.The alternative to such a commitment will surely be more wrecked lives, furthersocial deterioration, an ever increasing crime rate and ultimately the potentialdestruction of our society.In Pennsylvania today, our best estimate of the number of heroin addictsis between 30,000 and 50,000 persons.In Philadelphia alone there are between 15,000 and 20,000 heroin addicts andbetween 25,000 and 30,000 persons addicted to other narcotics or dependentupon other dangerous drugs.The economic impact of the drug problem is as startling as the human toll ittakes of its victims.In order to make the $50 or $70 a day it takes to keep the habit alive, theheroin addict usually steals goods with a market value of $100 to $150 or morewhich he then sells at a lower price.Based on these figures, Philadelphia alone suffers a property loss of over$500 million a year. Statewide, it would not be unreasonable to claim that theloss approaches a billion dollars annually. This is in addition to the fact thattwo-thirds of the muggings and street crimes are drug connected.Those are the harsh economic facts, facts with which you are probably alltoo familiar.But the question you want answered today is this : How can the nationalGovernment help us, at the State and local level, to deal effectively with theproblem? Assuming a Federal financial commitment, where would the moneygo?When I took ofiice last January, I called upon the State legislature to inauguratethe first comprehensive statewide drug control and rehabilitation programin our history, to include the problem of alcoholism.As I snid before, estimates as high as $45 million were made to fund theprogram. Finally, we settled on a first year figure of $20 million, spread througha number of departments, with the central coordinating point being a councilon drug abuse within the Office of the Governor.I was astounded to find that the State of Pennsylvania had. on a payrollof more than 100,000 people, only 30 special narcotics agents charged with theresponsibility of controlling the illicit drug traffic.So, first, we intend to upgrade thi' i)oai(ioiis of the narcotics agents, add moremen, and give tliem better training.