2008 CFC# 12486 
Our Stories
Share the power of long-term recovery. If you are in recovery, a family member, friend or ally of someone in recovery, we want to hear your recovery story!
Learn more...
Voice of the Recovery Community Award
Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) is the recipient of The Joel Hernandez Voice of the Recovery Community Award!
Learn more…
|
Recovery in the News
Rally to restore substance abuse treatment funds
Kristen Schorsch
Southtown Star
July 15, 2008
If cuts to substance abuse treatment programs statewide remain, it could cause an East Hazel Crest treatment center to lay off 50 workers, trim services and treat only half of the approximately 3,500 patients who receive help each year, social service supporters said Monday.
The cutbacks also could cost the state more because some of those unable to get treatment would end up imprisoned or in hospital emergency rooms and mental health centers, among other places, said Allen Sandusky, chief executive of the South Suburban Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and board president of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association.
Sandusky was among those rallying Monday at the Thompson Center in the Loop for lawmakers to override Gov. Rod Blagojevich slicing about $1.4 billion from the proposed state budget, including $55 million for substance abuse treatment. Sandusky said the governor is unfairly targeting people with addictions.
"We have 7,500 people on a waiting list statewide to get substance abuse treatment," Sandusky said in a later interview. "We're estimating that 42,000 will be kicked out of treatment" because of the state cuts.
If the cuts remain, the 41-year-old south suburban council will lose about half of the $4 million it annually receives from the state. The council has an $8 million budget.
Statewide, the $55 million cut from substance abuse programs is actually doubled because that amount would be matched with federal dollars, Sandusky said. He said the $110 million loss comes from of a total $258 million for substance abuse treatment statewide.
Blagojevich spokeswoman Katie Ridgway said in an e-mail that the governor acted responsibility by balancing the budget after state legislators sent him a proposed budget containing a $2.1 billion deficit. About 70 percent of the vetoed items came by eliminating scheduled increases, Ridgway said. The state budget totals $28.3 billion - an $8 million increase from last year.
"Obviously, all of the programs are worthwhile and deserve to be properly funded, but so do rape centers, AIDS research, Amtrak service and many of the other programs and initiatives that remained in the budget," Ridgway said.
Lawmakers are slated to meet today to talk about restoring some of the $1.4 billion that Blagojevich eliminated. State Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) said she specifically will oppose the funding cut for substance abuse treatment.
"These are the people who need the help the most, and we're going to give them the least?" Flowers asked. "I don't think so."
© 2008 Digital Chicago, Inc.