Newly created Pa. drug, alcohol agency on hold

The Corbett administration says unexpectedly high costs to set up the newly created Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs is preventing it from getting up and running, the AP reports.

A state Health Department spokeswoman said Thursday the establishment of a Cabinet-level department is “under review,” and a final decision won’t be made until state officials can determine if adequate resources are available. Many of the department’s projected functions are now performed by a bureau within the Health Department.

A state law was passed in 2010 to create the department on July 1, but so far that hasn’t happened.

Gov. Tom Corbett hasn’t announced a choice for department secretary.

Corbett spokeswoman Kirsten Page says state budget pressures make it “an odd time to create more bureaucracy.”