Pubdate: Tue, 03 May 2005 Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) Copyright: 2005 Lexington Herald-Leader Contact: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) COAL TAX MONEY EARMARKED FOR RURAL ANTI-DRUG EFFORT PIKEVILLE - A private hospital will receive public funding from coal severance tax revenues to treat young drug addicts in Eastern Kentucky. Pikeville Medical Center will receive $750,000 over the next two years to help pay for a juvenile drug rehabilitation center, state Sen. Ray Jones II, D-Pikeville, said yesterday. Coal severance tax money historically has been used for economic development, including development of industrial parks and extension of municipal water lines into communities where mining has fouled wells. Jones said the state budget included an additional $1.5 million in coal severance tax revenues to Operation UNITE, an anti-drug project in 29 mountain counties. He said he expects that money also will go for operation of drug treatment centers. Hospital officials said yesterday at a news conference that Jones made it possible for the facility to receive state funds. Jones said he pushed for the appropriations because of the severe drug problem in the region and because most treatment programs are geared toward adults. Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Ron Burchett, a hospital board member, said he now spends 85 percent of his time working on drug and alcohol abuse cases. Hospital officials said no site has been selected for the treatment center, but they expect it will cost at least $1 million. "I know a lot of people have been opposed to this type of allocations from coal severance tax revenues," he said. "I can't think of a better use for coal severance money than to try to save lives. ... I would rather subsidize the hospital than funeral homes." The program will not conflict with a federally subsidized drug-treatment plant at Ashcamp, which will treat adult addicts, he said. Pike County Judge-Executive Bill Deskins said he supported the appropriation for drug treatment, but intended to monitor the program closely. "There's so many things we could spend this money for -- think of the blacktop that could buy. You'd better believe I'm going to follow up and see that everything's done properly." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom