The Maine Association of Substance Abuse Programs applauds your editorial supporting a constitutional amendment to preserve the Fund for Healthy Maine (May 14).

With membership representing the continuum of substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services in Maine, our members receive critically needed funding for prevention and treatment programs and services through the Fund for Healthy Maine. We believe that L.D. 1612 will ensure that the tobacco settlement dollars are used as they were intended – for disease prevention, health promotion and access to health care.

Protecting the Fund for Healthy Maine lays the foundation for a sustainable, affordable health care system. And, promoting health and preventing disease are the best investments we can make in keeping health costs down.

As a result, Maine will see health care costs decrease while productivity increases, lives and money will be saved through proactive and early prevention and intervention, and the state will save in health care costs today and into the future.

Over 140 members of the Maine Legislature have pledged to support efforts to permanently protect the Fund for Healthy Maine. There is strong public support. Two thirds or more of the public polled in 2003 favor a constitutional amendment. No other state has done what Maine is proposing.

We have a long tradition of innovative and fiscally responsible solutions to difficult problems. A constitutional amendment shows great leadership and vision and is a bold step in recreating Maine – the way life should be for its citizens.

Ruth E. Blauer, executive director

Maine Association of Substance Abuse Programs,

Augusta

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